The late NAF Pilot, Squadron Leader Bello Mohammed Baba-Ari, Instructor/Pilot of the F-7Ni Supersonic Fighter Jet who died on his way to hospital following the twin aircraft crash at Katampe in Abuja, was on Friday buried at the Gudu Cemetry at the Federal Capital Territory.
At the Islamic burial ceremony to pay their last respects were the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Principal Staff Officers at NAF headquarters and the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Amao.
Early on Friday, two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni aircraft taking part in the rehearsals for the aerial display to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary Celebrations were involved in an air incident on Friday, 28 September 2018.
The NAF said the air mishap necessitated the 3 pilots to eject from their aircraft, which subsequently crashed in the general area of Katamkpe Hill.
“Regrettably, however, one of them later died due to complications from injuries sustained upon impact on the ground. Thankfully, there were no civilian casualties”.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Abubakar, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, commiserated with the family of the deceased officer.
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The CAS has also instituted an air crash investigation to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident.
The late Squadron Leader Bello Mohammed Baba-Ari was born in Maiduguri on September 2nd 1986.
He hails from Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State. He attended Crescent Nursery/Primary School Lagos from 1991-1996 and Nigerian Military School, Zaria from 1996 – 2002.
He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy, as a member of the 55th Regular Course on 29 September 2003 and was commissioned to the rank of Pilot Officer on 29 September 2007.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA. He was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader on 29 September 2016.
The Senior Officer attended several courses some of which are – Ab-initio Flying Training on Air Beetle-18 at 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna.
Undergraduate Pilot Training Course, Lackland Airforce Base, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America; Simulator Training for F-Ni Pilots in Pakistan.
Also he attended the Pilot Life Support and Personnel Protection Equipment on F-7Ni aircraft at AVIC Aerospace Life-Support Industries in China.
Among appointments he has held were Squadron Pilot at Air Task Force, Operation Lafiya Dole; Acting Commander 101 Air Defence Group; and Squadron Pilot at 101 Air Defence Group;
The late Squadron Officer is married and blessed with children
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