NAF Plane Crash Victim Visited Mother Hours Before Fatal Flight

One of the victims of Monday’s ill-fated Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, Flight Lieutenant M. Akintoye, reportedly visited her mother whose birthday was on Monday. He reportedly informed her that they were on their way to Lagos, and that turned out to be their last encounter.

It was gathered that his mother, Prof. Emily Akintoye, is an employee of the Benson Idahosa University in Benin City.

A source close to the Air Force also revealed that the co-pilot, Flight Lieutenant I.S. Bako, married a few weeks ago.

Flags flew at half mast at the Air Force Military Base and at the Air Force Military Hospital.

A source close to the family said, “They were from a programme and stopped over in Benin City, on Monday, being the birthday of his mother, he rushed to the house in one of their Air Force vehicles to wish her a happy birthday and inform her that they were on their way to Lagos. A few hours after, the news of the disaster came.

“Everybody is devastated, including senior officers, because of the number of personnel involved in the disaster. His mother is in distress, obviously, and it is a bad day to celebrate his birthday. This is something that will be with her for life, so whenever it is her birthday, she will remember the tragic death of her son,” he said.