Air Chief Reaffirms Support for Families of Crashed NAF ATR 42 Crew
Oru Leonard
The Chief of the Air St noaff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to supporting personnel and families affected by the recent accident involving its ATR 42 aircraft.
Aneke gave the assurance on October 8, 2026, during a visit to 107 Air Maritime Group (AMG), NAF Base, Benin City, the home unit of the ill-fated aircraft.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Air Chief to commiserate with personnel over the loss of their colleagues and reassure the families of the deceased of the Service’s continued emotional, administrative and institutional support.
Addressing personnel, Aneke described the deceased officers as dedicated patriots who served the nation with honour and commitment.
“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,” he said.
The CAS assured the families that the NAF would remain committed to their welfare, stressing that the Service would continue to provide the necessary support during the difficult period.
He also acknowledged the provision of scholarship awards for the children of the deceased personnel, reiterating that their education and general welfare remained a priority.
“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,” Aneke stated.
NAF Pledges Support for 107 AMG
On the recovery and strengthening of 107 AMG, the Air Chief assured personnel that the Service would take appropriate measures to improve their welfare, sustain training and ensure the availability of operational platforms required for effective service delivery.
He urged personnel to remain focused, professional and resilient while the unit works towards regaining its operational strength.
“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,” he said.
Responding, the Commander of 107 AMG, Air Commodore Onu, expressed appreciation to the CAS for visiting the unit and reassuring personnel and the families of the fallen officers at a difficult time.
According to him, the visit had boosted the morale of personnel and demonstrated the Air Chief’s commitment to their welfare.
“Sir, your presence here has strengthened the morale of our personnel. We appreciate your leadership, concern and commitment to the welfare of our people,” Onu said.
He assured the CAS that personnel of the unit remained dedicated to their responsibilities and would continue to uphold the traditions and professional standards of the Nigerian Air Force despite the challenges confronting them.
Aneke commended personnel of 107 AMG for their professionalism, resilience and dedication in the face of adversity, urging them to remain steadfast as search, recovery and investigative efforts continue.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to the search and recovery operations following the aircraft accident.
The CAS noted that the cooperation among the agencies underscored the importance of joint operations and inter-service collaboration in responding to national challenges.
He reiterated the NAF’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel and their families, assuring those affected by the accident that the Service would continue to provide the necessary assistance.
Aneke also reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The development was contained in a press release issued on October 9, 2026, by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
