Two officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have been confirmed killed in the air crash involving one of trainer aircraft of the NAF in Kaduna State in northern Nigeria on Tuesday.
A statement by the Nigerian Air Force Director of Public Relation and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Wednesday in Abuja identified the officers as Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Karatu.
He disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, visited Kaduna a day after the aircraft crashed, killing the officers onboard at the NAF Base in Kaduna.
According to the statement, the Air Force chief was in Kaduna to commiserate with families, friends, and colleagues of the two pilots and promised that the Air Force would ensure it thoroughly investigates the cause of the crash of the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.
The statement added the air marshal has constituted an Accident Investigation Board to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
While assuring the officers, airmen, and airwomen of the 401 Flying Training School that all measures would be emplaced to avert a similar occurrence in the future, he reminded them of the need to remain steadfast and focus on their assigned roles and responsibilities in view of the onerous task before the NAF and other security agencies to rid the North West and the entire nation of all criminal elements.
“The unfortunate incident of yesterday’s trainer aircraft crash is yet again a tragic reminder of the perilous nature of the military flying profession as well as the risks NAF pilots continually take, daily, to secure Nigeria’s territorial integrity,” the statement added.
GIK/APA