The spokesperson to governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, has confirmed the plane crash escape of his principal at the domestic wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on September 5, 2023.
Adeleke was reported to have escaped death in a private jet owned by his elder brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke en route from Lagos to Abuja.
Rasheed in a statement, Sunday, explained that there are strong indications that the two aircraft engines were tampered with before boarding.
Rasheed stated that the highly technically equipped aircraft was well maintained with the best technical crew and was never an unused platform where birds could build nests.
He said, contrary to the claim by the hanger owner that birds’ nests caused the incident, birds’ nests are made with straws not bidding wires as in this case.
“The near-fatal incident was averted shortly after boarding and less than two minutes after the commencement of taxing on the tarmac.
“An early warning noise from the engines immediately prompted the pilots to direct evacuation of the passengers. Everything happened within five minutes.
“Early reports from the internal investigation indicated sabotage. But, the authorities, locally and internationally, are still investigating the incident,” Rasheed said.
He allayed the fear of the public saying that the governor and his aides were safe and there was no injury or any outward explosion on the plane.
