The two pilots, Flight Lieutenants Abubakar Alkali and Elijah Haruna Karatu, were recent graduates of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).
President Muhammadu Buhari mourns the tragic and unfortunate death of two officers in a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane crash in Kaduna, according to a statement by media aide, Garba Shehu.
TheNiche had reported that two pilots were killed in the Kaduna during a training session.
The two pilots, Flight Lieutenants Abubakar Alkali and Elijah Haruna Karatu, were recent graduates of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).
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The two officers were also amongst the Nigerian Airforce officers who returned from Pakistan in April 2021 following a six-month training in the Southeast Asian country.
The Airforce says a probe into the crash has commenced.
Reacting to the death of Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Alkali and Flight Lieutenant Elijah Haruna Karatu, the President said:”I am shocked beyond words by the demise of these two promising young men who risked their lives in the service of the country.
“There is no reward big enough to pay for the services of these young and dedicated professional airmen in the service of their country.”
While extending his sympathies to the Chief of Air Staff and the families of the deceased, President Buhari called for “more safety measures to forestall tragic incidents of this kind.”
“I welcome the decision by the NAF authorities to investigate this accident, but I also call on them to publish and implement the recommendations of the reports of past investigations into air accidents, with a view to preventing future tragedies and putting closure to the families and friends of the deceased,” the President added.