Ondo Crash: You’ll Continue To Receive Salaries Until Death Benefits Are Fully Paid, NAF tells Families

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has assured families of the victims of NAF 931,ATR 42-500 which crashed at Igbokoda Ondo State on 5 October 2026 that their salaries will continue to run until death benefits are fully paid.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet gave the assurance during an engagement with the bereaved families on 28 October 2026.

He assured the families that the NAF would sustain recovery efforts in collaboration with relevant agencies and “support a thorough, evidence-based investigation, stressing that the Service would not speculate on the cause of the accident until the relevant evidence had been properly examined”.

He explained that the swampy, waterlogged terrain and difficult access to the crash site had presented significant technical and logistical challenges, necessitating dewatering, engineering support and site stabilisation.

He statement by the NAF Spokesman Air Cdre Ehimen Ejodame said the engagement is part of ongoing efforts to provide support, address concerns and keep them informed about the recovery operation and investigation.

AVM Gabkwet conveyed the CAS’s heartfelt condolences and reaffirmed the Service’s solidarity with the families.

He emphasised that the NAF’s responsibility extends beyond the immediate response to the tragedy, assuring them of the Service’s continued support. “The Nigerian Air Force stands with you, and our thoughts and prayers remain with every family affected by this tragedy,” he said.

He revealed that the CAS has “directed that the salaries of the deceased personnel will continue to be paid until their death benefits are fully paid to their next of kin (NOK),”.

The explained that the measure, in line with a welfare policy initiated by the CAS, is designed to provide financial stability for dependants while the applicable benefits are being processed.

He added that the gesture also reflects the CAS’s emphasis on personnel welfare as a critical pillar of operational effectiveness, recognising that the well-being of personnel and the security of their families remain integral to sustaining morale, commitment and mission readiness.

The statement said the NAF facilitated engagements between the bereaved families and its religious leaders, including Christian chaplains and Muslim imams, to provide spiritual guidance, prayers and pastoral support during this difficult period.

It added that a renowned consultant psychologist, Professor Ehize Odigie-Okpataku, provided psychological support through individual interactions and counselling sessions.

“The families were also given the opportunity to air their views, express personal concerns and make direct enquiries regarding the accident, recovery efforts and welfare arrangements,” he said .

The CAS assured the families that “your grief matters, your questions matter, and the dignity of your loved ones will remain central to our response to this tragedy.”

These engagements underscored the NAF’s commitment to addressing the families’ emotional, spiritual and practical needs with compassion and sensitivity.

The NAF further pledged to maintain open communication and provide guidance on welfare and administrative matters through designated liaison channels, including the Office of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs.

The Service remains committed to supporting the bereaved families, sustaining recovery efforts and facilitating a credible investigation, while ensuring that the memory of the fallen personnel is honoured with dignity, compassion and concrete action.