By Ayo Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning for Air Force personnel who lost their lives in Monday’s military aircraft crash in Ondo State.
The President also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for the victims during the mourning period.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The crash involved a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft which came down near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Tinubu had earlier expressed sadness over the crash, describing the incident as a painful moment for the Nigerian Armed Forces and the country.
In a condolence message to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, as well as officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the President acknowledged the risks military personnel face in the course of their duties.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten”, Tinubu said.
The President said he had been briefed by the Chief of Air Staff and had directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately begin a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences”, he noted.
Tinubu also commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search-and-rescue operation following the accident.
He directed that the names of the officers who died should be released after the Nigerian Air Force had contacted their respective families.
The Nigerian Air Force maintains a fleet of aircraft used for a range of national security duties, including transportation of personnel, logistics, surveillance, combat operations and other military assignments.
Military aircraft routinely operate across different parts of the country in support of national security and operational activities. Accidents involving such aircraft typically require immediate search-and-rescue efforts, followed by technical investigations to establish the circumstances and possible causes.
The Ondo incident occurred while the ATR-42 was undertaking a routine flight from Benin to Lagos. The crash claimed the lives of personnel on board and prompted an immediate response by the Nigerian Air Force.
With President Tinubu now declaring three days of national mourning and ordering flags to be flown at half-mast, attention has shifted to the recovery operation, identification of the victims and the investigation expected to establish what caused the aircraft to crash.
