Tributes have been pouring in for the 11 persons who died in a crash involving Beachcraft 350 aircraft at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday.
Prominent among the deceased is the newly appointed chief of army staff Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, but friends and families of others who died have taken to social media to mourn their loss.
The pilots, Flt. Lt. Alfred Olufade who recently got married and Flt. Lt. Taiwo Olufemi Asaniyi who was about to wed, were among the dead.
Mourning Olufade, @Sir_KB, tweeted, “My heart is in pain. I lost my friend. Flight Lt. AA Olufade. He got hitched months back and often teased me to get out of the bachelorhood. Rest well Freddy.”
@OvieNews said, “Rest in Peace Alfred. Flight Lt. AA Olufade just married two months ago. Our Heroes.”
Also, @SodyBar stated, “Olufade is a close associate. He got married February this year. We’re all disheartened!”
“We’re all saddened by his death. Everyone affiliated with Kuje seminary will surely miss him. May the Almighty grant you eternal rest,” @EmekaWilfred wrote.
@ogunwens tweeted, “We are all in pain, may his soul and others rest in peace. May their deaths not be in vain. My family and I salute our heroes.”
“Aaaaah Alfred, hmmm this is so devastating and unbelievable. May God almighty grant you eternal rest and comfort your entire family,” tweeted another associate, @Sweetne05954276.
Also, a Twitter user @_victor_kings who claimed he would have been Asaniyi’s best man wrote, “Flight lieutenant T.O Asaniyi. He flew the plane, we had his introduction in March. I was going to be his best man.”
@blessnoyiz tweeted, “Ahhh, no now, not Mr Asaniyi. Still saw his WhatsApp status update this week. Dear Lord!”
“May their soul rest in peace. My condolences,” @bcube234 tweeted.
The Defence Headquarters has said the aircraft crashed as a result of bad weather.
This incident means the military has suffered three crashes in three months, leaving questions about safety in military aviation.