Captain Fola Akinkuotu, director general, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called for caution in the reportage of aviation matters in the country insisting that several aspects of the industry are sensitive and demand restraint during reportage.
He said: “We are delighted to welcome you to this impromptu press briefing which has been called to shed more light on the air incident involving the IRS Airline flight 3390 at the Kaduna Airport yesterday, October 13, 2013.
“This briefing has become necessary, even after our press statement yesterday, explaining the circumstances that necessitated the aircraft landing on the runway, because of the misrepresentation of facts on the incident in some sections of the press.
“We sincerely believe that this briefing will afford members of the press the opportunity to ask questions on the incident and subsequently get first hand and factual information that would put paid to the incorrect information that is circulating in certain quarters about the incident.
“For the purpose of reinforcement, we wish to restate that the affected F100 aircraft operated by IRS Airline, Reg. No. 5N-HIR landed safely at the Kaduna Airport, following a hydraulic alert in the cockpit while on final approach at the airport.
“We wish to appeal that news reports on aircraft incident and accident should be made with caution, after all facts have been cross-checked with the appropriate authorities, because of the sensitive nature of the aviation industry to the general public,” Akinkuotu said.