The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has announced that the Seven officers who died in the air crash that took place in Abuja on Sunday will be buried at the National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja, on Thursday.
This was disclosed by NAF on Wednesday in an invitation to journalists.
The officers were victims of the fatal Beechcraft King Air B250i crash that occurred close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure.
Among the deceased were the Captain, Fl. Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist); Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, ordered an investigation into the accident while several Nigerians have expressed grief over the sad mishap.
According to the CAS, the deceased personnel had been in Minna, Niger State, for days conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in connection with the efforts to secure the release of the 42 students and staff abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.
Amao who spoke on Monday while receiving the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who paid a condolence visit to the Nigerian Air Force headquarters, said the aircraft had carried out several Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in virtually all the theatres, including the North-East, North-West as well as the North-Central.