Seven personnel perished in the military aircraft that crashed in Abuja on Sunday, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed.
The military aircraft, Beechcraft King Air B350i, crashed at Bassa Airport Village on Sunday morning, February 21, after reporting engine failure.
Earlier, Straightnews had reported that six persons were feared dead in the crash based on the suspected number of persons said to be onboard the aircraft.
Air Vice-Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of public relations and information, said in a statement that the aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure en-route Minna.
Daramola also said all the seven personnel on board sadly died in the crash.
The Air Vice-Marshal also confirmed that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), AVM Oladayo Amao, has ordered an immediate investigation into the crash.
He wrote: “This is to confirm that a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure en route Minna. First responders are at the scene. Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash.”
“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), @CAS_IOAmao, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. While urging the general public to remain calm & await the outcome of investigation, the CAS, on behalf of all NAF personnel, commiserates with the families of the deceased,” Daramola tweeted on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has released the names of the seven personnel that perished in the military aircraft that crashed in Abuja today February 21.
According to a statement released by AVM Ibikunle Daramola, the Director of Public Relations and Information, the deceased personnel include;
a. Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain).
b. Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot).
c. Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist).
d. Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).
e. Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist).
f. Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist).
g. Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).
