By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has set up a panel to probe the training aircraft that crashed in Kaduna on Tuesday.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet.
According to Gabkwet, the panel was set up to determine the main cause of the crash.
He said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has vowed to ensure a painstaking investigation into the incident.
He quoted Amao to have stated this when he visited Kaduna earlier on Wednesday to commiserate with families, friends, and colleagues of the two pilots, Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Muhammed Alkali, and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Haruna Karatu, who lost their lives in the tragic accident.
“The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has stated that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will ensure it thoroughly investigates the cause of the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crash that occurred on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at NAF Base, Kaduna.
“Air Marshal Amao had constituted an Accident Investigation Board upon receiving the sad news of the crash on Tuesday, to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
“He assured the officers, airmen, and airwomen of 401 Flying Training School that all measures will be emplaced to avert similar occurrence in the future.
“Amao also reminded them of the need to remain steadfast and focused on their assigned roles and responsibilities in view of the onerous task before the NAF and other security agencies to rid the North West and indeed the entire nation of all criminal elements.
“The unfortunate incident of Tuesday’s trainer aircraft crash is yet again a tragic reminder of the perilous nature of the military flying profession as well as the risks NAF pilots continually take, daily, to secure Nigeria’s territorial integrity,” the statement read.
