NAF jet crashes in P/Harcourt
3 jets lost in one year
Another helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has again crashed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. It was learnt that the helicopter with the number NAF MI-35P crashed at exactly 7.45am shortly after it took off for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State.
Although the cause of the fresh crash was yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report, the development brings the number of crashes recorded in 2023 by NAF into four.
NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who confirmed the development, said all those onboard survived, with “minor injuries.”
Gabkwet said: “The Chief of Air Staff is currently en route to Port Harcourt to assess the situation and see to the wellbeing of the crew and give further directives.”
“An incident of this nature is yet again a grim reminder of the dangers associated with military flying and the risks NAF pilots and technicians experience in their onerous task of defending our country and deterring criminal elements from their nefarious activities,” Gabkwet said.
Checks by our correspondent showed that the fresh incident brings to four, crashes recorded by the NAF and 3 helicopters lost in 2023.
Specifically, on February 6, 2023, a Nigerian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft belly-landed in Lagos. The aircraft, a Cessna Citation CJ3, was on a routine flight.
It had lost its tyres on a touchand-go flight in Ilorin and had to carry out a controlled belly landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Similarly, on July 14, 2023, a Nigerian Air Force FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed in Makurdi, Benue State.
The aircraft crashed while on a routine training exercise, but luckily, the two pilots on board survived after successfully ejecting from the aircraft.
In the same vein, a NAF jet marked MI-171 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission also crashed on August 14, 2023 at 1pm near Chukuba village in Niger State.