It is a sad day for Nigeria as a trained Air Force fighter pilot was killed in the twin airplane crash in Central Florida, Executive Airport on Thursday in the United States of America.
The Network reported that investigation revealed that the pilot, a trained pilot of the rank of wing Commander (name withheld) died when the Diamond DA42 Twin Star aircraft collided with another unoccupied aircraft while it was trying to take off.
The NETWORK quoted Indepedent of UK reporting that the accident occurred as a result of bad weather around 5pm.
The said report quoted Carolyn Fennell, Director of Public Affairs at Greater Orlando Aviation Authority as having attributed the accident which occurred around 5 pm to bad weather.
The report stated further that another occupant of the aircraft probably a trainee was injured in the unfortunate accident.
The Network said its investigation revealed that the Wing Commander of the Nigerian Air Force was an instructor pilot on the aircraft.
It was gathered that he was in the US for a Master Programme On Air Safety.
It was reported that “The Orlando Fire Department responded to the accident but one person was pronounced dead at the scene, while another person has been taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center as trauma alert, a spokesperson for the fire department told USA Today as quoted by the Independent.
“There was evidence that planes that were parked did get moved around by the wind,” Orlando Executive Airport director and air traffic controller Judith-Ann Jarrette told NBC affiliate Wess.”
The report stated that authorities were yet to release the details about the destination of the the plane.
The NETWORK reported that its, correspondent could not get Air Comm. Edward Gabkwet, Spokesman of NAF to comment as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.
Credit: THE NETWORK.
