Funke Busari
The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has notified family members or Next-of-Kins of seven personnel who lost their lives in one of its aircraft, – Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF 201).
This information was communicated by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola on Sunday.
The Spokesperson disclosed the names of the deceased as: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain), Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot), Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist), Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).
Others are Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist), Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).
Informing the public, the Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has visited the scene of the accident, in company of the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retired); Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, and other Service Chiefs.
He has also instituted an investigative panel which has commenced investigation into the crash to determine the remote and immediate causes of the accident.
The CAS, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, once more commiserates with the families of the deceased personnel.
The Force regretfully announces the death of the officers.
The crash occured while the Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF 201) was returning to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja after reporting engine failure en-route Minna, where it was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.
