Tropical Arctic Logistics Limited (TAL), the owners of the helicopter that picked a passenger at the Benin–Ore expressway, has explained the reason behind its action.
Igbere TV had reported on how an helicopter picked up a road user who was reportedly stranded in traffic for over two hours on the ever-busy Benin-Ore expressway.
Reacting in a statement made available to Igbere TV on Thursday, the airline operators said the chopper embarked on “emergency medical evacuation” to save a life.
The company said it got clearance from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), saying it did not breach any aviation regulation in its bid to conduct “life-saving operations”.
The statement signed by TAL’s Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Femi Adeniji, said the company was surprised at the “undue outrage” the airline’s action was gaining globally.
Full Statement,
“We wish to state that our mission for that flight was to save lives, we immediately swung into action and rushed to the site in record time to pick the individual who is currently recuperating in the hospital.
“We are a licensed logistics company to carry out medical evacuation operations and was engaged to airlift an individual who suffered a serious health challenge while caught in traffic and needed emergency evacuation on the day in question.
“The Benin–Ore road evacuation was conducted in close collaboration with security agencies , the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Police worked assiduously in trying to clear the gridlock caused by the on going road construction.
“They directed us to a clear portion of the road where the operation was handled free from any incident.”
Igbere TV reports that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it has begun full scale investigation into the act.
