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BEREAVED parents of victims of the December 10, 2005 Sosoliso plane crash at the Port Harcourt airport have demanded a thorough police investigation into the incident.
PORT HARCOURT - BEREAVED parents of victims of the December 10, 2005 Sosoliso plane crash at the Port Harcourt airport have demanded a thorough police investigation into the incident.
The parents, who addressed a press conference in Port Harcourt, Tuesday, accused the authorities of the airport and Sosoliso workers of criminal negligence and homicide.
Two of the bereaved, Mrs Kumbi Amachree and Mr. Ilabor, who addressed the press on behalf of others, said they were determined to expose the official cover-ups and lies being peddled by the authorities.
Amachree, who lost her 13-year-old daughter, Owanate in the crash, noted that contrary to the claims by the authorities, there was no water hydrant at the airport.
'There was no announcement of arrival or departure of planes, and we are surprised that new ambulances were parked at the airport on Thursday, a few days after the air crash," she said.
The parents also condemned the Sosoliso airline operators of using an incorrect manifest and insisted that the number of passengers that actually died in the crash may never be known as a result.
They demanded the scrapping of all airlines that have technical problems.
'We cannot continue to keep flying coffins in our airports. It is disheartening that this kind of incident is happening in our country in 2005 and it is being covered-up," they said.
'There is no good in keeping airports for political reasons. All insecure airports should be closed down."
They however commended the mortuary attendants at the various hospitals where the victims were sent for their professionalism.
They also commended the Chief Security Officer to the Rivers State Governor and Governor Odili himself for cutting short his Abuja trip because of the crash.
59 of the 60 students of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja who boarded the plane perished.