By Abba Gwale
The Nigerian Air Force has said that the seven Nigerian Air Force officers who died on Sunday as a result of air crash will be buried at the National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road Abuja, on Thursday.
The Beechcraft King Air B350i in which they were flying crashed short of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure.
The deceased include 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).
Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Oladayo Amao, said the deceased personnel, had been in Minna, Niger State, conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in connection with the efforts to secure the release of the 42 students and staff of Government Secondary School Kagara, Niger state who were abducted last week.
He 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.
Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, ordered an investigation into the mishap.
