The panic-stricken air passengers in Sierra Leone and abroad are presently giving a serious thought to the possibility of using Air Sierra Leone, an aircraft that has sent shivers down the spines of so many Sierra Leoneans at home and in the Diaspora. From indicators gathered so far, those interviewed have made it very blunt that they would not fly on Air Sierra Leone until this aircraft has passed on all safety conditions. (Photo: The plane painted colourfully to cover the cracks).

Since the safety of Air Sierra Leone aircraft was questioned by the leading Sierra Leone social media activist Gibril Bangura based in the US, and later by another investigation carried out by politician and publisher and proprietor of Awareness Times newspaper Dr Sylvia Blyden, a major development has occurred in this direction. The International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO has been alerted, reports say. (Photo: The coffin aircraft).

Sources say it was after this frightening development had been exposed on social media and further disseminated worldwide by anxious Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora that caught the eyes of ICAO officials, who in turn immediately contacted the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority SLCAA in Freetown for clarification. SLCAA, controlled by the inept SLPP regime, is now paying keen attention to this looming danger.

It was Mr Gibril Bangura who first revealed the terrible history of the aircraft in question which he described as ‘Coffin Plane’. He said the Air Sierra Leone aircraft is unsafe and a serious risk to the health and safety of passengers. Mr Gibril did not hesitate to point accusing fingers at the illegal Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, who does not care about his people’s safety. (Photo: The coffin aircraft during the accident).

It was on Monday, November 11th, 2024 that Mr Gibril Bangura broke the terrible news. Captioned ‘AIR SIERRA LEONE IS A FLYING COFFIN PREPARED BY ALIBABA BIO AND HIS NIGERIAN OPERATIVES FOR SIERRA LEONEANS’, he wrote: “After leading Sierra Leone into a state of financial turmoil, Julius Alibaba Bio and his associates have opted to launch what they are calling a “floating coffin” for the citizens of Sierra Leone.

“In light of this alarming development, I strongly urge everyone, particularly those residing in the United Kingdom, to consider purchasing additional life insurance before considering any travel on what the Bio Family has dubbed their floating coffin. This flight has become emblematic of the situation, and it’s important to be informed about its background and significance. (Photo: The coffin aircraft during the accident).

“The airworthiness of flight 5N-BZZ, which was involved in a runway accident on May 11, 2024, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, is uncertain. However, according to the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau NSIB, the aircraft’s Certificate of Airworthiness was valid until December 8, 2023. Additionally, the aircraft’s insurance was valid until November 11, 2023. It’s essential to note that these certifications may have been updated or renewed since the incident.

“The incident occurred after the crew was forced to hold their approach due to bad weather, which had caused the runway to be closed temporarily. Another flight had executed a missed approach just 25 minutes before landing. For those interested in understanding more about the context, here is a brief overview of the history surrounding flight 5N-BZZ,” Gibril Bangura stated. (Photo: The coffin aircraft during the accident).

Incident Details

– Date: May 11, 2024

– Aircraft Type: Embraer ERJ-145

– Operator: XE Jet Airlines Limited

– Flight Origin: Abuja

– Incident Time: 3:03 pm

Sierra Leoneans are very anxious about the safety of the Air Sierra Leone aeroplane following the above information. People want triple assurances that the aircraft in question which has been painted colourfully in the Sierra Leone Green, White, Blue flag, is full-proof safe. Sources say the aircraft has only flown locally in Nigeria’s air space before the accident occurred. (Photo: The coffin aircraft during the accident).

It is in this purview that Sierra Leoneans are calling on ICAO, the specialised agency of the UN that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth, to pay keen attention to this danger called Air Sierra Leone.

The ICAO headquarters are located in the Quartier international de Montréal of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, its infrastructure, flight inspection, prevention of unlawful interference, protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport safety in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation – Wikipedia.