Tinubu Orders Three-Day Mourning After Air Force Crash
Nigeria will observe three days of national mourning for personnel of the Nigerian Air Force who died in an aircraft crash in Ondo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced.
The President has also ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the deceased officers.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft went down near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while travelling from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission. The aircraft had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.
Reacting to the crash, Tinubu described the loss as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the country, commending Air Force personnel for the risks they undertake in the course of securing Nigeria.
He directed the Nigerian Air Force to begin an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, stressing the need to prevent a recurrence.
The President also acknowledged the Air Force’s response to the incident, particularly the activation of search and rescue operations after the aircraft went down.
The identities of the deceased personnel have not yet been released. According to the Presidency, the Nigerian Air Force will make their names public after their respective families have been contacted.
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