About-to-wed NAF pilot killled in Kaduna plane crash

The entire family and friends of a Nigerian Air Force pilot, Flt Lt Taiwo Olufemi Asaniyi, are grief-stricken as the young officer, who was about to wed, died when a Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday.

Asaniyi was the pilot of the ill-fated jet which also claimed the lives of his co-pilot, Flt Lt Alfred Ayodeji Olufade, newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and eight others.

Air Commodore Peter Simeon, who is the Commander of the 671 NAF base detachment, Akobo, Ibadan, led other officers to the late pilot’s residence in Ibadan to console the aged parents.

Responding on behalf of the family, Deacon Adeleke, who thanked the NAF for the early visit, pleaded for immortalisation of all the deceased.

He advised that the government should always remember the families of the deceased.

Friends and associates of Asaniyi have since taken to social media platforms to mourn the youth.

A tweep, @_victor_kings, wrote, “Flight lieutenant T.O Asaniyi. He flew the plane, we had his introduction in March. I was going to be his best man.”

“Ahhh, no now, not Mr Asaniyi. Still saw his WhatsApp status update this week. Dear Lord!” @blessnoyiz expressed shock.

At least 20 military officers have lost their lives in the last three months in three crashes involving Nigerian Air Force jets.

On Sunday, February 21, 2021, seven NAF officers died onboard a Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft when the jet crashed in Abuja.

Also, on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said an Alpha-Jet aircraft involved in the anti-terror war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province lost radar contact in Borno State.

Two officers were on board the missing jet which was later declared crashed and the whereabouts of the two airmen unknown till date.