A Dana Airline maintenance technician, Mr Lawrence Edekome, has told a Lagos coroner that he carried out a 12-minute check on the ill-fated Dana aircraft before its flight from Abuja to Lagos.
Edekome, a witness of Dana Airline, told the coroner, Mr Oyetade Komolafe, on Wednesday in Ikeja under cross-examination that the aircraft underwent a check and was certified to embark on the ill-fated flight.
Ekedome said he left Lagos for Abuja with the ill-fated plane from where he carried out a last check to give a clearance for the Lagos journey.
He added that he did not join the return trip after the check because he was expected to return to Lagos on the afternoon of the following day from where he had to relieve another technical crew.
While speaking on his routine check on the plane before it took off and how he recorded whatever he observed as error, Edekome said: “Whatever is seen in the aircraft is what is recorded in the technical log book.”
On the time he took him to carry out the check, Edekome told Oyetade that: “I arrived Abuja around 2 p.m. and I went straight to my office to drop my luggage and came back to the aircraft 25 minutes later and inspected the aircraft for 12 minutes.’’
Edekome, who had introduced himself as an engineer, admitted during cross-examination that he was not a qualified engineer but a technician, adding that he underwent necessary training to handle aircraft maintenance and was recognised across the world.
He said that no university in Nigeria offered a degree programme in aeronautic engineering.
The witness said he was certified as a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer by NCAA after training at the Nigerian Air force Technical Institute for three years.
He explained that as a maintenance engineer, he did not find it necessary to go through the technical log book.
Asked about the engine problem the plane suffered in 2010, he said it was as a result of bird strike that led to the change of the aircraft engine.
Edekome said the authorities, including NCAA was informed of the bird strike and the change of the aircraft engine.
He said there were several repairs on the engine and it was certified to fly.
The coroner adjourned further hearing from witnesses till Thursday.