NAF chief pledges continued support for families of crashed aircraft crew

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has assured families of Nigerian Air Force personnel affected by a recent aircraft accident of the Service’s continued support, promising assistance for their welfare and that of their children.

Aneke gave the assurance during a visit to the 107 Air Maritime Group (AMG) at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Benin City, Edo State, the home unit of the ill-fated NAF ATR 42 aircraft.

During the visit, the Air Chief met with personnel of the unit and conveyed his condolences over the loss of their colleagues, describing the deceased as dedicated patriots who served the country with honour and commitment.

The development was disclosed in a statement made available to defence correspondents in Abuja by the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of our fallen colleagues. They made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation, and we will not forget them or the contributions they made to the Nigerian Air Force,” Aneke said.

NAF promises welfare support for bereaved families

The Air Chief assured the families of the deceased personnel that the Service would provide emotional, administrative and institutional support to help them cope with the loss.

He emphasised that the welfare of the bereaved families remained a priority, adding that the NAF would continue to assist them during the difficult period.

Aneke also acknowledged the provision of scholarship awards for the children of the deceased personnel, stressing that the Service remained committed to ensuring their future was not jeopardised by the loss of their parents.

“We will continue to do everything within our capacity to support the families and ensure that the children of our fallen comrades are not left without support. Their welfare is our responsibility, and we will remain committed to it,” he said.

The assurance underscores the Service’s commitment to supporting the dependants of personnel who die in the line of duty.

Aneke pledges to strengthen 107 Air Maritime Group

Beyond the welfare of the affected families, Aneke pledged measures to strengthen the operational capacity of the 107 AMG and enable it to continue carrying out its responsibilities effectively.

He said the support would cover personnel welfare, training and the availability of operational platforms needed for the unit’s duties.

“We will support this unit to quickly regain its strength. That support will include welfare, training and the availability of the platforms required for you to continue performing your duties effectively. We expect you to remain focused, professional and resilient,” he said.

The Air Chief also commended the personnel for their professionalism, resilience and dedication despite the tragedy, urging them to remain steadfast as search, recovery and investigative operations continued.

He encouraged the unit to maintain its operational focus while supporting ongoing efforts connected with the aircraft accident.

Commander appreciates Air Chief’s visit

In his response, the Commander of the 107 AMG, Air Commodore Onu, thanked Aneke for visiting the unit and reassuring personnel and the families of the deceased of the Service’s commitment to their welfare.

Onu said the visit had boosted the morale of personnel as they continued to deal with the consequences of the tragedy.

“Sir, your presence here has strengthened the morale of our personnel. We appreciate your leadership, concern and commitment to the welfare of our people. We remain resolute and committed to our responsibilities, despite the challenges we are currently facing,” he said.

The commander assured the Air Chief that personnel would remain dedicated to their duties and uphold the traditions and professional standards of the Nigerian Air Force.

NAF acknowledges inter-agency collaboration

Onu also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies for their assistance with the search and recovery operations following the aircraft accident.

He said the cooperation among the services and other security agencies demonstrated the importance of joint operations and inter-service collaboration in responding to national challenges.

The Nigerian Air Force has continued to focus on supporting affected personnel and their families while efforts relating to the search, recovery and investigation into the accident proceed.