Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has assured families of the 25 victims of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State that they will get full support.
Aneke gave the assurance on Thursday when he visited the crash site at Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NAF 931, crashed into a swampy area near the Naval Forward Operating Base on Monday while on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos. The Air Force confirmed all 25 persons on board, five crew members and 20 passengers died.
“The Nigerian Air Force is putting everything possible to ensure that the families get the necessary support they need,” Aneke said.
The Air Chief, who said he personally knew everyone on board, described the crew as highly trained and professional officers.
“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,” he said.
He said he has directed the Superintendent of Safety and Evaluation to constitute a high-level team of military and civilian safety experts, including representatives of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, emergency management authorities, retired senior officers and experienced Air Force personnel, to investigate the crash.
Aneke appealed to the public to avoid speculation on the cause of the crash pending the outcome of investigation.
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