NAF investigates Crash Of Trainer Aircraft

21 Apr NAF investigates Crash Of Trainer Aircraft

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, on Wednesday, said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) would thoroughly investigate the cause of the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crash in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Amao said this when he visited Kaduna yesterday to commiserate with families, friends and colleagues of the two pilots who lost their lives in the tragic accident.

He assured the officers, airmen and airwomen of 401 Flying Training School that all measures will be taken to avert similar occurrences in the future.

Amao also reminded them of the need to remain steadfast and focused on their assigned roles and responsibilities, given the onerous task before the NAF and other security agencies to rid the Northwest and indeed the entire Nation of all criminal elements.

The trainer aircraft had crashed during a training session at the NAF base in Kaduna State on Tuesday, with two pilots on board.

A statement issued on Wednesday by NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, identified the two victims as Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Muhammed Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Haruna Karatu.

Gabkwet said, “Air Marshal Amao had constituted an Accident Investigation Board upon receiving the sad news of the crash yesterday, to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.

“While at Kaduna earlier today, he assured the officers, airmen and airwomen of 401 Flying Training School that all measures will be emplaced to avert similar occurrence in the future.

“He also reminded them on the need to remain steadfast and focused on their assigned roles and responsibilities in view of the onerous task before the NAF and other security agency to rid the Northwest and indeed 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.”

Meanwhile, one of the two pilots, Alkali, was buried on Tuesday evening at the NAF base central mosque, Kaduna, according to Islamic rites.

“Akali is a fine officer, always in the service of his fatherland; a great son to us; we were devastated. But we take consolation in the fact that God giveth, God taketh, and fortunately, we belong to a family that lay emphasis on fear of God.

“The kind of life he lived is very encouraging, and we have accepted it (incident) as being ordained by God”, his uncle Suleiman Dauda told newsmen.

The latest incident in Kaduna makes it five air crashes involving Nigerian military planes in the last one year.