Air Force Co-Pilot Dies in Ondo Crash 2 Weeks After His Wedding

Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, a co-pilot of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, had tied the knot in a grand ceremony in Abuja just two weeks before the tragic incident.

Man-Ugwueje married Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle on September 19, 2026.

 

Details from the wedding invitation and posts shared on social media by vendors revealed that the couple held their church service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Utako, Abuja, followed by a reception at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Asokoro.

 

The groom, who originally hailed from Umuahia, Abia State, was the son of retired Group Captain Man-Ugwueje.

The military plane was on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos when it crashed into a swampy area in Igbokoda on Monday morning.

 

Local residents and nearby naval officers reported hearing a loud noise before seeing the aircraft go down.

 

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 people on board comprising five crew members and 20 passengers lost their lives in the crash.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa noted that emergency responders, local residents, and Amotekun Corps personnel carried out search efforts, but no survivors were found.

 

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, called the loss a deeply painful moment for both the military and the nation, confirming that a full investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.