The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed one of its aircraft crashed in Niger State on Monday.
The Air Force said the aircraft was on a casualty evacuation mission when the crash happened.
- A statement on Monday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said: ‘The aircraft departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed in a village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger.
- It partly read, “A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, August 14, 2023, at about 1.1.00 pm Chukuba Village in Niger State.”
The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.’
Gabkwet said efforts are ongoing to rescue the pilots and passengers on board.
- ‘Efforts are currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash,’ the statement added.”
It was reported the aircraft was on a mission to evacuate casualties during a military operation in the Zungeru area of Niger State.
Recent aircraft crash in Nigeria
The NAF’s recent crash comes just two months after a similar incident occurred in Benue state where a FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed in Makurdi, Benue state.
A few weeks ago, a civilian aircraft on a test flight crashed in the Oba Akran area of Lagos state.
However, no casualty was recorded on both flights.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Niger state has sympathised with the Nigeria Airforce over the crash of its MI-171 Helicopter in the state.
They Governor through his Press secretary encouraged the Airforce not to relent in its fight against criminals.
