President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning period in honour of Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in the military aircraft crash in Ondo State on Monday.As part of the mourning observance, the President directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country in tribute to the fallen officers and personnel.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
According to the Presidency, the aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when the accident occurred, throwing the Armed Forces into mourning.
Tinubu, 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, described the incident as a painful moment for the military and the nation.
“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,” the President said.
Following the crash, Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
He said the investigation was necessary to establish the cause of the crash and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The President also commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating a search-and-rescue operation immediately after the aircraft went down.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force is expected to release the names of the deceased personnel after their families have been contacted.
The declaration of national mourning comes as the country awaits further details from the ongoing investigation into the crash.
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