Crew members who died in the crashed plane: credit Octopus News

The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that its Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF 201) which crashed near Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja on Sunday was scheduled to it was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.

Air Vice Marshall Ibikunle Daramola, the spokesperson for the Air Force said the aircraft crashed while returning to the airport in Abuja after reporting engine failure enroute Minna, the capital of Niger State in a statement on Sunday evening.

He added that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has instituted an investigative panel to determine the remote and immediate causes of the accident.

Daramola added that while the panel has commenced its work, the NAF, has notified the Next of Kins/family members of thecrew who died in the incident. He also announced the names of the 7 personnel lost their lives in the crash.

They are: Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain)  Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot), Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist), Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist), Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist), Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

“Earlier, the CAS visited the scene of the accident, in company of the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retired); Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, and other Service Chiefs. The CAS, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, once more commiserates with the families of the deceased personnel and prays that the Almighty God grants their souls eternal repose,” Daramola added.