The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the 25 people who died in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, crash in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Aneke described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the country.
He extended his sympathies to the bereaved families and assured them of the service’s full support during the difficult period.
NAF 931 had 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
The Air Force said search-and-rescue operations were immediately activated in coordination with relevant authorities to locate and account for everyone on board, but no survivors were found.
The five crew members were identified as Squadron Leader MI Aburime, flight captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, aircraft technician.
The 20 passengers were Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F, Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Warrant Officer Nuhu FS, Flight Sergeant James RB, Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI, Sergeant Ani AE, Sergeant Izibenikien SI, Sergeant Alafuka C, Sergeant Mbadugha AN, Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC and Lance Corporal Eledan GE.
The civilian passengers were Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.
The NAF said the loss of the personnel and passengers remained a major tragedy for the service and the nation, as efforts continued to address the aftermath of the crash.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
