Fresh details have emerged on the crashed, Nigeria Airforce (NAF) Beechcraft aeroplane. Reports say, the black box and cockpit recorder of the aeroplane, have been recovered. The bodies of the seven persons killed in the accident have also been evacuated.
Lamenting the tragedy, President Muhammadu Buhari said he remained committed to the safety of the Nigerian airspace. The aircraft, which was en route to Minna, Niger State capital, crashed shortly after the perimeter fence of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Firemen attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) put out the fire in the afternoon while officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were on the ground.
About 1:30 p.m., a team of investigators arrived at the scene from the Accident Investigation Bureau of Nigerian (AIB-N). Working with the Air force personnel, the investigators immediately mapped out the accident scene, examining and identifying body parts of the aircraft, which laid strewn around the crash site.
At about 2 p.m, all emergency rescue teams had completed their task and were ordered to leave the scene for investigators.
An eyewitness said the aircraft struggled for balance and began descending dangerously until it hit a mango tree close to a stream behind Bassa village by the airport. The pilot of the aircraft had reportedly complained of engine failure barely moments after taking off. The pilot was advised to return to the Abuja airport immediately but it crash-landed.
Giving more details late evening, NAF said the Beechcraft KingAir B350i (NAF 201), was on its way to Niger State in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, who spoke on this in Abuja, said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, had instituted an investigative panel to determine the remote and immediate causes of the accident.
He noted that NAF had notified the Next of kins/family members of the deceased, and gave their names as Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain) Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot), Flying Officer Michael Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) Specialist), Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist), Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist).
Others are Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist), Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician). A military source had earlier confirmed the crash, saying: “The Nigerian Air Force NAF201 aircraft departed Abuja at 10.33UTC.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, Honourable Shehu Koko, also confirmed that the ill-fated NAF Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft was on a rescue mission of abducted students of Government Science College, Kagara.
Koko witnessed the incident along with the Chief of Air Staff and commiserated with the families of the deceased. He added that the Chief of Air Staff had visited the scene of the accident, in company with the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd); Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Lucky Irabor and others.
The Beechcraft King Aircraft is a line of American utility aircraft produced by Beechcraft. King Air was the first aircraft in its class and has been in continuous production since 1964.