One of the victims of Tuesday’s ill-fated Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo state, Flight Lieutenant M. Akintoye had breezed in to wish his mother whose birthday was the following day a happy birthday in advance and to inform her that he and his other colleagues would soon be on their way to Lagos, but by a twist of fate, sorrow and bitter tears replaced the joy of the birthday celebration. Condolences replaced felicitations.
The young pilot died hours later with 31 others – 25 passengers and seven crew members – when the military aircraft plunged into a swamp at Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje local government area of Ondo State.
Newsmata.com.ng learnt that his mother, Professor Emily Akintoye is a staff of the Benson Idahosa University in Benin City, Edo State.
The military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, was said to have disappeared from radar shortly after take-off as air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13am, before the tragic crash.
According to information circulating on social media, one of the co-pilots, Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje got married barely two weeks before his death.
Flags flew at half-mast at the Air Force Military base and at the Air Force Military Hospital, in Benin in honour of the fallen officers.
A source close to the Akintoye family hinted that “They were from a programme and stopped over in Benin City. Tuesday being the birthday of his mother, he rushed to the house in one of their air force vehicles to wish her happy birthday and inform her that they were on their way to Lagos. Few hours after, the news of the disaster came.”
According to the source, “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 her birthday. This is something that would be with her for life; that whenever it is her birthday, she would remember the tragic death of her son.”
