The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) commitment to supporting the families of personnel who died in the recent ATR-42 aircraft accident in Ondo State.
Aneke gave the assurance during a visit to the 107 Air Maritime Group (AMG), NAF Base, Benin City, the home unit of the ill-fated aircraft, where he met with personnel and conveyed his condolences to colleagues and families affected by the tragedy.
READ ALSO: Association Mourns NAF Aircraft Crash Victims
The CAS described the deceased as dedicated patriots who served the nation with honour and commitment, assuring their families that the Service would continue to provide emotional, administrative and institutional support during the difficult period.
“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.
Aneke also highlighted the provision of scholarship awards for the children of the deceased personnel, stressing that their welfare remained a priority for the Service.
“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 added.
Addressing concerns about the recovery of 107 AMG following the accident, the Air Chief assured personnel that the NAF would take necessary steps to strengthen the unit through improved welfare, sustained training and the provision of operational platforms.
He urged the personnel to remain focused, professional and resilient as the Service worked to restore the unit’s operational capacity.
In his response, the Commander of 107 AMG, Air Commodore Onu, expressed appreciation to the CAS for visiting the unit and reassuring personnel and families of the fallen.
He said the visit had boosted the morale of personnel, adding that they remained committed to their responsibilities despite the challenges confronting the unit.
The CAS commended the personnel for their professionalism, resilience and dedication to duty, urging them to remain steadfast as search, recovery and investigative efforts continued.
