Flt. Lt. Haruna Gazman has been identified as the pilot of the Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft that crashed close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Sunday.

The aircraft en route to Minna in Niger State crashed close to the runway of the airport after reporting engine failure.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in a tweet, described the accident as “fatal” and prayed for the “departed souls”.

“A military aircraft King Air 350 has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure en route Minna,” he tweeted.

According to a Twitter user, Emmanuel Mac-den (@EmmanuelMacden1), Gazman who he described as his friend was the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft.

“My friend was the pilot of that flight, rest well Haruna Gazman,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, Mac-den wrote, “Nigerian government failed you dearest Haruna Gazman. Keep resting well. You’re a fighter.”

AF NEWS had earlier obtained a list of five out of the seven person onboard the ill-fated NAF 201 B350 aircraft.

They were Gazama (Gazman), Flt. Lt. Piyo, Flg. Offr. Okpara, FS Olawumi and ACM Johnson.