Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje was among the Nigerian Air Force personnel killed when an ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Ondo State, barely 16 days after he exchanged wedding vows.

The Nigerian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje, has died in a military aircraft crash in Ondo State, just two weeks after celebrating his wedding.

Man-Ugwueje was one of the pilots aboard the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, designated NAF 931, which crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday, October 5, 2026.

The aircraft was carrying 25 people—20 passengers and five crew members—when it went down while reportedly conducting a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday, October 6, released the names of those who died in the crash, confirming Man-Ugwueje among the victims.

His death has added a deeply personal dimension to the tragedy, coming only days after what should have marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

Man-Ugwueje married Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle on September 19, 2026, in Abuja. The couple’s wedding ceremony was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Masters Place, on Solomon Lar Way, opposite the National Health Insurance Scheme headquarters and the Customary Court of Appeal in Utako.

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The wedding reception later took place at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre along the Asokoro Expressway in Abuja.

The couple had been married for just 16 days when the aircraft crash claimed Man-Ugwueje’s life.

News of his death has cast a shadow over what was only recently a joyous occasion for his family, friends and colleagues in the military.

The Ondo crash has also triggered widespread mourning as the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the victims come to terms with the loss.

Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and establish what caused the aircraft to go down during its flight from Benin to Lagos.

For Man-Ugwueje’s family, however, the tragedy is particularly painful: a wedding celebrated with hope and joy only two weeks ago has now been followed by an unexpected loss.