Updated: Confusion, uncertainty over allegations that Nigerian died in Iran plane crash
- Claims that a young Nigerian on a tutelage programme with Boeing was among those killed in the plane that crashed in Iran has caused confusion in the African country
- According to reports which Legit.ng could not independently verify, the man, Dauda Onoruoiza, had the mandate to study the mechanical sound of Boeing 737-800 and report back to the company
- It was claimed that he was the only Nigerian on the flight that was brought down by Iranian military in what the government called an error
- A fact check by a national newspaper, however, faults the reports
There is currently confusion in Nigeria over trending reports that a citizen of the country was among those that died in the Ukranian airline that crashed and killed 176 people recently.
According to the report, the man's name was Dauda Onoruoiza and he was on a training programme.
Onoruoiza was said to be among the 176 people in the ill-fated jet belonging to the Ukraine International Airlines and which was brought down by missiles reportedly fired by the Iranian military.
Legit.ng could not independently verify the claims made in the report which is making the rounds in Nigeria.
The jet, which was to face maintenance in Ukraine on Monday, January 13, crashed with no survivor after it was attacked.
Source: UGC
Today News Africa claimed that Onoruoiza was on training with Boeing in Ukraine and was attached to a plane with which he should fly and study some mechanical issues.
He was expected to report back to the company his finding relating to Boeing 737-800.
But The Guardian (Nigeria), in its fact check, reported that the name Dauda Onoruoiza is conspicuously missing on the official passengers and crew members manifests which were released by the Ukraine International Airlines and the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday, January 8.
The national daily newspaper noted also that no Nigerian name could be found among all of the 176 names listed on both documents released by the two agencies.
Although the controversial report appears on top national daily newspapers like ThisDay as well, Legit.ng could not authenticate the claims it made.
According to the manifests, victims in the accident included 11 passengers from Ukraine, 82 from Iran, 63 from Canada and three from Germany.
The flight also had 10 passengers from Sweden, four from Afghanistan. Three other passengers were from the United Kingdom.
In a short note posted its website, Boeing described the incident as tragic. It also sent condolences to the families of the passengers and the crew.
Legit.ng had reported the Iranian government admitted that its military made what it called an 'unforgivable mistake' in unintentionally shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner.
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A thread of tweets by the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, said that armed forces’ internal investigation had concluded that missiles regrettably fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane and death of 176 innocent people.
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Source: Legit.ng
