NAF Crash: Deceased personnel were highly trained professionals- Chief of Air Staff

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has described the personnel who died in the Monday crash involving an ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government, Ondo State as highly trained, professional, and intelligent officers.

Aneke stated this when he visited the crash site to assess the ongoing recovery efforts of the submerged aircraft.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, which was flying from Benin City to Lagos, crashed on Monday morning near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, killing all 25 passengers and crew members on board.

Aneke disclosed that he had directed his Superintendent of Safety and Evaluation to assemble a high-level delegation comprising of necessary stakeholders to get to the bottom of what happened.

“I basically knew everyone on that flight. I’ve flown on this aeroplane. My family has flown on this aeroplane. I know each of the crew personally.

“This is not the time to start speculating, and I plead with you, general public. We’ve lost people who are fighting for the nation. The best we can do for them is to be a little bit patient and let those who are the specialists get to the bottom of what has happened.”

NAF Crash: Deceased personnel were highly trained professionals- Chief of Air Staff