Ondo Air Crash: NAF Pilot Dies Two Weeks After His Abuja Wedding

According to a report by Punch on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, one of the Nigerian Air Force pilots who died in the Ondo State aircraft crash, had married Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle just two weeks before the fatal accident.

Man-Ugwueje and Adekunle held their wedding ceremony in Abuja on September 19, 2026, with details of the event confirmed through the couple’s wedding invitation as well as photographs and videos shared by vendors involved in the ceremony.

The wedding planner and other service providers documented the occasion, including footage shared by videographer Beejay Creates, which identified the couple as the bride, Damilola, and groom, Ahamefule.

The wedding invitation stated that their Holy Matrimony took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Masters Place, in Utako, Abuja, at 11am, while the reception was scheduled for 3pm at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Asokoro. The invitation also identified Man-Ugwueje as the son of retired Group Captain Man-Ugwueje.

Information on the late pilot’s Facebook profile listed Umuahia in Abia State as his hometown and Abuja as his current city. His death came after the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, while carrying out a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

The aircraft had 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that there were no survivors and released the names of all those who died. Man-Ugwueje was listed among the five crew members and identified as the co-pilot.

Following the crash, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the country while extending condolences to the victims’ families, loved ones and colleagues. The Air Force also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had earlier said that search efforts at the crash site produced no survivors. According to the governor, he was informed about the incident at about 10.30am on Monday after receiving a call from the chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area.

Aiyedatiwa said residents across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud sound before seeing the aircraft descend into a swampy area. Nigerian Navy personnel, emergency officials, residents and members of the Amotekun Corps subsequently took part in efforts to reach the crash site and search for possible survivors.

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