Air Chief Orders Enforcement of Strict Flight Safety Standards
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has directed stricter flight safety oversight across the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) following the 5 October 2026 accident involving its ATR 42-500 aircraft, NAF 931.
The directive, issued at a meeting with senior commanders in Abuja on Wednesday, underscores the Service’s renewed emphasis on personnel safety, professional discipline, aircraft airworthiness and institutional accountability.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the meeting was attended by Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Principal Staff Officers and other senior commanders.
Aneke expressed profound sorrow over the loss of personnel in the accident, acknowledging the grief of the bereaved families and the wider Nigerian Air Force community.
He stressed that operational effectiveness must be anchored in sound judgement, professional discipline and strict adherence to established flight safety standards.
The Air Chief consequently directed commanders to intensify oversight of aircraft airworthiness, maintenance quality assurance, operational procedures and aircrew competence.
He also called for proactive safety monitoring, prompt reporting of potential hazards and effective implementation of preventive measures, emphasising that flight safety is a shared responsibility across all levels of command.
The CAS further noted that substantial resources had been invested in personnel training, aircraft spare parts and maintenance to sustain airworthiness and operational readiness.
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Meanwhile, search and recovery operations at the crash site in Igbokoda, Ondo State, are continuing, with specialist personnel and equipment from relevant agencies supporting efforts to recover aircraft components and preserve evidence for investigation.
The Head of the Recovery and Investigation Team, Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, disclosed that the operation had involved extensive mud excavation and water pumping to gain access to relevant areas of the accident site.
He said satellite-based search and rescue imagery, the Nigerian Navy’s hydrographic survey team and divers, as well as divers from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), had contributed to the recovery effort.
According to the statement, additional aircraft components have been recovered, documented and preserved for investigative purposes.
The constituted investigation board has also commenced work to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident through a systematic examination of available evidence, technical information and relevant records.
Aneke has directed all relevant units and branches to preserve evidence, provide necessary documentation and cooperate fully with the investigation.
The Nigerian Air Force urged members of the public to refrain from speculation, stressing that the cause of the accident would be determined through the established investigative process.
The Service also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected families and implementing appropriate safety recommendations arising from the investigation.
It said the protection of personnel and the integrity of future air operations remained its overriding priorities.
The statement was signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, on 14 October 2026.
By PRNigeria
