"Maj-Gen Tahir Umar was not on board" - DHQ; as Jonathan visits crash site.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) stated on Monday in Abuja that Maj-Gen Tahir Umar was not involved in the Dana Air plane crash on Sunday at the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos as reported.

Col Mohammed Yerima, the Director Defence Information, stated this in a statement he issued to deny media reports that the Army General had died in the crash.

The statement said that Umar purchased the ticket for the ill-fated flight but could not make the trip.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has visited the crash site and promised better air safety. The President admitted that the plane crash is a major setback to the reforms currently going in the aviation industry, but says he will ensure that such an unfortunate incident does not happen again.