The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has named the two officers who died in the crash involving one of its trainer aircraft in Kaduna State, on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Wednesday, identified the officers as Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Karatu.
The air force spokesperson disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, visited Kaduna a day after the incident to commiserate with families, friends, and colleagues of the two pilots.
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The NAF Chief has promised that the air force would thoroughly investigate the cause of the crash of the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.
Amao has also constituted an Accident Investigation Board (AIB) to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
While in Kaduna, Amao assured the officers, airmen, and airwomen of 401 Flying Training School that all measures would be put in place to avert a similar occurrence in the future.
Amao also reminded them of the need to remain steadfast and to focus on their assigned roles and responsibilities in view of the onerous task before the NAF and other security agencies to rid the northwest 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,” Gabkwet says.
