Amidst tears, the remains of seven Nigerian Air Force officers were, Thursday, interred at the National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja.
The officers died Sunday in the Beechcraft King Air B350i which crashed a short distance from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure.
The deceased included the Captain, Fl Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Michael Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).
Others were Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).
At the funeral service in Abuja were the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Salihi Magashi (retd.); the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen Lucky Irabor; the Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Atahiru; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao and the family members of the deceased.
Coffins of the departed were draped in Nigeria’s flag and sitting on each coffin were the shoes and caps of the deceased.