NAF Jet Crash: Remains Of Seven Officers Buried Amid Tears

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), yesterday, buried the remains of the seven young Air Force officers who died as a result of the ill-fated NAF Beechcraft King Air B350i aircraft that crashed in Abuja on February 21.
The seven young Air Force officers were buried with full military honours at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
The seven personnel include 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).
The families were presented with the national colours by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Isiaka Oladayo Amao.
He also laid a wreath in honour of the departed, while men of the Air Force fired a volley by the burial party.
It would be recalled that about seven officers were involved in the crash with a Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF 201), while returning to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last Sunday, after reporting engine failure enroute Minna, where they 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.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Isiaka Oladayo Amao, has since ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
The CAS said the deceased persons had been in Minna, Niger State, 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.