The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) says one of the pilots who successfully ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft that had earlier crashed in Abuja has passed on.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
“It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce that one of the pilots who successfully ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft that crashed earlier today has passed on.
“May his soul rest in peace. Additional details on the incident will be communicated,”Daramola said.
Two NAF aircraft had crashed in the FCT when they were performing rehearsal for Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary in the territory on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the remains of Sdqn. Leader Bello Baba-Ari, who died in an air accident involving two Nigerian Air Force aircraft, were laid to rest at Gudu cemetery, Abuja.
Late Baba-Ari, who hailed from Yobe State, was one of the pilots of the two fighter jets that collided while taking part in rehearsals for the 58th Independence Day celebrations, slated for Monday.
Among those who attended the burial were: Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Barr. Boss Mustapha and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin.
Others were: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Siddique Abubakar, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, hundreds of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, as well as friends and relatives of the deceased.
Senior military officers and colleagues of the deceased could not control their emotions as they wept while the remains of Baba-Ari were committed to mother earth.
President Buhari, who expressed his grief over the sad incident, delegated his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to visit and console the two other victims of the air mishap at the DIA Clinic in Abuja.