NDF rejects claim that pilot flew ‘under the influence’

THE Namibian military has dismissed reports that negligence was behind the crashes of at least two aircraft, including one that was allegedly on its way to fetch President Sam Nujoma in the Otjozondjupa Region last year.

Senior military officers, claiming there have been cover-ups in the past, said the only two Mi8 helicopters had been damaged beyond repair, including one that crash-landed in the Caprivi last month. The officers named two senior pilots who, they claimed, had between them put at least three aircraft of the fledgling Namibia Defence Force’s (NDF) air wing out of action in less than two years.The two pilots were allegedly asked to investigate one another and exonerated each other.They blamed the damage on mechanical failure.At least one of the pilots, whose name has been provided to The Namibian, was reported to have flown an aircraft while drunk during the opening of Heroes’ Acre two years ago.This is alleged to have happened again at a function at Ondangwa, as well as at celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of Walvis Bay’s integration in March.The Ministry of Defence has denied the accusations.”We have not had any cases in which an NDF pilot was charged with negligence in handling, in any way, our aircraft,” a statement responding to questions sent to the Ministry said.”Our pilots are medically examined before flying any aircraft of the Force.The allegations that our pilots fly under the influence of alcohol are devoid of any truth.” Nonetheless, other sources in the NDF have continued to insist that negligence caused the damage to the helicopters and a Cessna, which are now said to be at the Grootfontein military base.The aircraft that was to fetch President Nujoma was said to have been parked at Okakarara or Ovituuo.The NDF has declined to respond to specific questions about the accident, who the pilot was or whether any investigation had been carried out.Major Monica Sheya of the public relations office said their written response had side-stepped questions deemed “irrelevant”.The response denied that any NDF aircraft had crashed since the collision of two helicopters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) five years ago.”All that we had was an emergency landing by one of our helicopters in the Caprivi Region.The emergency landing was caused by a mechanical problem and not by human negligence,” according to the statement.The military also dismissed as a “blatant lie” that some aircraft had been grounded because they were not airworthy.”What is true is that some of these flying machines are aged and need constant maintenance – more than the new ones.Their spare parts are not readily available locally …” It is not clear how many operational aircraft the NDF’s air wing has or what its strength is.The officers named two senior pilots who, they claimed, had between them put at least three aircraft of the fledgling Namibia Defence Force’s (NDF) air wing out of action in less than two years.The two pilots were allegedly asked to investigate one another and exonerated each other.They blamed the damage on mechanical failure.At least one of the pilots, whose name has been provided to The Namibian, was reported to have flown an aircraft while drunk during the opening of Heroes’ Acre two years ago.This is alleged to have happened again at a function at Ondangwa, as well as at celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of Walvis Bay’s integration in March.The Ministry of Defence has denied the accusations.”We have not had any cases in which an NDF pilot was charged with negligence in handling, in any way, our aircraft,” a statement responding to questions sent to the Ministry said.”Our pilots are medically examined before flying any aircraft of the Force.The allegations that our pilots fly under the influence of alcohol are devoid of any truth.” Nonetheless, other sources in the NDF have continued to insist that negligence caused the damage to the helicopters and a Cessna, which are now said to be at the Grootfontein military base.The aircraft that was to fetch President Nujoma was said to have been parked at Okakarara or Ovituuo.The NDF has declined to respond to specific questions about the accident, who the pilot was or whether any investigation had been carried out.Major Monica Sheya of the public relations office said their written response had side-stepped questions deemed “irrelevant”.The response denied that any NDF aircraft had crashed since the collision of two helicopters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) five years ago.”All that we had was an emergency landing by one of our helicopters in the Caprivi Region.The emergency landing was caused by a mechanical problem and not by human negligence,” according to the statement.The military also dismissed as a “blatant lie” that some aircraft had been grounded because they were not airworthy.”What is true is that some of these flying machines are aged and need constant maintenance – more than the new ones.Their spare parts are not readily available locally …” It is not clear how many operational aircraft the NDF’s air wing has or what its strength is.