Crashed Plane was in Abuja to Refuel, Says CAS

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, has
disclosed that the Beechcraft King Air B350i which crashed with
seven crew members on Sunday was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja, to refuel.

The NAF aircraft which was on its way to Minna, Niger State, had
reported engine failure before it crashed short of the runway.

The CAS said the deceased personnel had been in Minna for days
conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions
in connection with the efforts to secure the release of the 42
students and staff abducted from the Government Science College
Kagara, Niger State.

Speaking while receiving the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs.
Pauline Tallen, who paid a condolence visit to the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) headquarters yesterday, Amao further 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.

According to a statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal
Ibikunle Daramola, titled, ‘Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline
Tallen pays condolence visit to NAF, commiserates with CAS,’ Amao
thanked the minister for finding time to commiserate with the NAF
on the unfortunate incident.

He said, “it was a sad Sunday for the entire NAF family, which
had lost a set of fine, well-trained, dedicated personnel, who in
the course of conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance missions, had operated in virtually all theatres,
including the North-East, North-West as well as the
North-Central.

“The deceased personnel, who had been in Minna for days
conducting ISR missions in connection with the concerted efforts to
secure the release of the students and staff abducted from the
Government Science College Kagara, Niger State, had only stopped at
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to refuel before
embarking on the fateful return flight to Minna, when the
unfortunate incident occurred.”

While describing the incident as one of the hazards of the
military profession, the CAS lamented that the NAF would find it
difficult to replace the personnel based on their training and
experience acquired over the years.

He said the service was, nevertheless, consoled by the fact that
the deceased personnel gave their utmost in service to the
nation.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, has
disclosed that the Beechcraft King Air B350i which crashed with
seven crew members on Sunday was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja, to refuel.

The NAF aircraft which was on its way to Minna, Niger State, had
reported engine failure before it crashed short of the runway.

The CAS said the deceased personnel had been in Minna for days
conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions
in connection with the efforts to secure the release of the 42
students and staff abducted from the Government Science College
Kagara, Niger State.

Speaking while receiving the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs.
Pauline Tallen, who paid a condolence visit to the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) headquarters yesterday, Amao further 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.

According to a statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal
Ibikunle Daramola, titled, ‘Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline
Tallen pays condolence visit to NAF, commiserates with CAS,’ Amao
thanked the minister for finding time to commiserate with the NAF
on the unfortunate incident.

He said, “it was a sad Sunday for the entire NAF family, which
had lost a set of fine, well-trained, dedicated personnel, who in
the course of conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance missions, had operated in virtually all theatres,
including the North-East, North-West as well as the
North-Central.

“The deceased personnel, who had been in Minna for days
conducting ISR missions in connection with the concerted efforts to
secure the release of the students and staff abducted from the
Government Science College Kagara, Niger State, had only stopped at
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to refuel before
embarking on the fateful return flight to Minna, when the
unfortunate incident occurred.”

While describing the incident as one of the hazards of the
military profession, the CAS lamented that the NAF would find it
difficult to replace the personnel based on their training and
experience acquired over the years.

He said the service was, nevertheless, consoled by the fact that
the deceased personnel gave their utmost in service to the
nation.