Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has described late NAF instructor pilot, Group Capt. Adanu Ochai, who died in a plane crash in Kaduna, as a hero who contributed immensely to the nation.
Abubakar made the remark when he led senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Kaduna.
A statement by the NAF Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the air chief pledged to support the family left behind by Ochai.
Late Ochai was the sole pilot on board the NAF Air Beetle aircraft which crashed in Kaduna on Aug. 24.
“During the visit, prayers were said for the family of late Ochai as well as for the repose of his soul.
“While speaking with Mrs Ochai, the wife of the late instructor pilot, Abubakar said that late Ochai was a hero who died in the service of the nation while doing what he was passionate about.’’
Abubakar added that the deceased was an excellent pilot who had trained several officers who knew nothing about flying to become reliable NAF pilots.
According to him, the late instructor had greatly contributed to the development of NAF, the latest being the record graduation of pilots who completed primary flying training as cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
The chief of air staff assured the widow that NAF would never forget her husband’s enormous contributions and would cater for the welfare of the family he left behind. (NAN)