A Nigerian Air Force aircraft has tragically crashed in Niger State while en route to Kaduna State on Monday.
According to Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Force, the incident occurred in Chukuba Village, within the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger.
The mishap involved a MI-171 Helicopter assigned to a casualty evacuation mission, departing from Zungeru Primary School. Regrettably, it crashed near Chukuba Village.
Rescue operations are underway to retrieve the crew and passengers aboard the helicopter. Preliminary investigations have also commenced to ascertain the likely cause of the accident.
This occurrence follows a similar incident just a month ago when a Nigerian Air Force FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed in Makurdi, Benue State. Fortunately, both pilots on the FT-7NI aircraft survived, and there was no loss of life or property damage at the crash site.
The pilots are currently being monitored at NAF Base Hospital, Makurdi. Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, has established a Board of Inquiry to delve into the immediate and underlying factors that contributed to the crash.
