Phot credit: REUTERS

The Nigerian Air Force has released the names of seven of its officers who died when its aircraft, Beechcraft KingAir B350i, crashed in Abuja on Sunday.

The jet en route Minna in Niger State crashed close to the runway of the Abuja airport after reporting engine failure.

A statement by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal I.O Amao, has ordered an immediate probe of the accident.

Daramola said the Air Force expressed condolences to the families of the victims who have been notified of the tragic occurrence.

The NAF Spokesman also said the officers were “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”

He gave the names of the deceased officers as:

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).

Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

Daramola said that the CAS visited the scene of the accident on Sunday in company of the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd); 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,” he added.