Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has assured families of personnel who died in the Oct. 5 crash involving its ATR 42-500 aircraft, NAF 931, that the salaries of the deceased will continue to be paid until all their death benefits are released to their next of kin.
The assurance was conveyed on Wednesday in Abuja by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, who represented the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, during a meeting with the bereaved families.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the engagement was organised to support the families and update them on the ongoing recovery operation and investigation into the tragic crash.
Expressing sympathy to the families, Aneke said: “The NAF stands with you, and our thoughts and prayers remain with every family affected by this tragedy.”
The Air Chief explained that the decision to continue paying the salaries of the deceased personnel was aimed at providing financial stability for their dependants while the process of paying death benefits was being completed.
He also briefed the families on the challenges facing the recovery operation, noting that the swampy and waterlogged terrain around the crash site had made access difficult.
According to him, the difficult conditions have required dewatering, engineering support and site stabilisation before recovery activities could continue effectively.
Aneke assured the families that the Nigerian Air Force would sustain the recovery efforts in collaboration with relevant agencies while ensuring that the investigation remained thorough and evidence-based.
He stressed that the service would not speculate on the cause of the accident until investigators had examined all available evidence.
The CAS also disclosed that the Air Force had connected the bereaved families with Christian chaplains and Muslim imams to provide spiritual support, while consultant psychologist, Prof. Ehize Odigie-Okpataku, offered counselling and individual psychological support to help them cope with the loss.
Reassuring the families of the Air Force’s commitment, Aneke said: “Your grief matters, your questions matter, and the dignity of your loved ones will remain central to our response to this tragedy.”
The ATR 42-500 aircraft, identified as NAF 931, crashed on Oct. 5 during an operation, claiming the lives of several Air Force personnel. The Nigerian Air Force has since continued recovery efforts and pledged a transparent investigation to determine the cause of the accident while providing welfare support to the affected families.
