The seven Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in Sunday’s plane crash of the Air Force Intelligence Reconnaissance aircraft, Beechcraft King Air B359i have been buried on Thursday at the National Military Cemetery in Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja.
Vigil360 reports that the plane crash occurred while the plane crash-landed following an engine failure which led the plane to explode on impact and causing the big ball of flames. The victims include Flight Lt Haruna Gadzama, Flight Lt. Henry Piyo, Flying Officer Michael Okpara, Warrant Officer Basset Etim, Flight Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi, Sgt Ugochukwu Oluka and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson.
Families of the deceased were in attendance for the burial as well as Service Chiefs including Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen LEO Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen Ibrahim Attahitu; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral AZ Gambo and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao.
Others at the burial were Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd); Minister of Women Affairs, Paulen Tallen, among others.