President Bola Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning for Air Force personnel who lost their lives in military aircraft crash, on Monday, in Ondo State.
The President also directed that flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the fallen officers.
This was contained in a State House press release issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The crash involved a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 jet which went down near a naval base in Igbokoda area of Ondo State. The aircraft, with 25 passengers and seven crew members on board, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
President Tinubu had earlier expressed profound sadness over the incident.
“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 in a condolence message to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.
He disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff has briefed him and that he has directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.
“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident,” Tinubu added.
According to the Presidency, the Air Force will release the names of the officers after contacting their families.
