TheCable

The Nigeria air force has released the names of seven personnel who died in the aircraft that crashed near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

Ibikunle Daramola, NAF spokesperson, published the names of the personnel in a statement on Sunday.

TheCable had reported that the Beechcraft KingAir B350i crashed while en route Minna, Niger state.

Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, had confirmed that the aircraft crashed as a result of an engine failure.

According to the air force spokesperson, the jet was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger and its environs as part of efforts to secure the release of students abducted from Government Science College, Kagara.

“As earlier stated, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has instituted an investigative
panel to determine the remote and immediate causes of the accident,” he said.

“While the panel has commenced its work, the NAF, having notified the Next of Kins/family members of the deceased, regretfully announces that the following 7 personnel lost their lives in the crash.”

The NAF listed the deceased officers as:

• Haruna Gadzama, flight lieutenant who was the captain (pictured)
• Henry Piyo, co-pilot and flight lieutenant
• Micheal Okpara, a flying officer and airborne tactical observation system (ATOS) specialist
• Bassey Etim, a warrant officer (ATOS Specialist)
• Olasunkanmi Olawunmi, a flight sergeant (ATOS Specialist)
• Ugochukwu Oluka, a sergeant (ATOS Specialist)
• Adewale Johnson, an aircraftman (onboard technician)