By Adesina Soyooye
Was the crash of the Nigerian Airforce Plane on Sunday, February 21, destined, or was it out of carelessness and negligence on the part of the Nigerian Airforce?
Could the NAF have saved itself, the Nation and the families of the seven victims the excruciating pains being passed through? Was it avoidable?
The grieving father of one of the victims, Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi, believes so. Pa Julius Olawunmi, a retired 77 year old teacher said his brief is that the crashed Aircraft was not only old, it was bad. It was a 49 year old plane, he told the Punch in an interview.
The ill-fated aircraft, was on its way to Minna from Abuja when it crashed short of the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while making an air-return.
Shortly after it took off, the Pilot reported an engine problem, and tried a return to the airport, But it burst into flames, shortly before it touched down, killing all the seven Airforce personnel on board. They were buried in Abuja on Thursday, February 25.
The dead were on their way back to Niger State, where they had been on a surveillance mission to locate the Kagara 27 students, three teachers, and 12 family members, who were abducted by Bandits. They were in Abuja to re-fuel the Aircraft when it crashed, killing them all.
Thanksgiving On Day Of Son’s death
Pa Olawunmi said that as a Christian, he has accepted his son’s death, but worried about the state of the Aircraft. He said he was told that the aircraft was old and bad, and stopped short of asking: Why use it? He did not directly put the blame on anybody. He was philosophical.
The irony, he said, is that the day of his son’s death was one of his happiest days, as he held a Thanksgiving in the Church, without knowing his son was dead at the time. He had no inkling of an impending doom, he said. The only thing, he explained, was that he was so happy at the Thanksgiving service, without knowing why.
Describing his son as loving, caring and irreplaceable, Pa Olawunmi, whose three older children are in the Police, asked the Government to look after his son’s wife and three children.
I am still waiting for his phone call – Wife
The late officer’s wife, with whom he had three sons is still dumb-founded and in self denial. On a condolence visit to the family by Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, she told the Governor that she was waiting for her husband’s phone call.
She said she called her husband a few minutes before the flight took off. They spoke briefly, and he told her: “I will call you as soon as we land. We are about to take off. He has not called. I am still waiting for his call.”
Fayemi was among the dignitaries who attended the funeral of the officers in Abuja. They were buried with full Military rights.
