Air Chief Directs Salary Payments To Families Of Fallen Personnel Pending Full Payment Of Benefits
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has directed the continued payment of salaries to personnel who died in the ATR 42-500 aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State, until their death benefits are fully paid to their next of kin.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, gave the directive during an engagement with the bereaved families on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as part of efforts to address their concerns and provide updates on the recovery operation and investigation.
Representing Aneke, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, conveyed the Air Chief’s condolences and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to supporting the families. He said continued salary payments were intended to provide financial stability while their benefits were being processed.
Gabkwet explained that the swampy terrain and difficult access to the crash site had posed technical and logistical challenges, requiring dewatering, engineering support and site stabilisation. He assured the families that recovery efforts would continue in collaboration with relevant agencies and that the investigation would be thorough and evidence based.
The NAF also provided spiritual and psychological support through its chaplains, imams and consultant psychologist, Professor Ehize Odigie-Okpataku. The families were given opportunities to raise concerns and seek clarification on the accident, recovery efforts and welfare arrangements.
Aneke reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to maintaining open communication with the families and ensuring their welfare concerns were addressed, stressing that the dignity of the fallen personnel would remain central to the NAF’s response.
