A Nigerian Air Force plane flying to Niger State has just been reported crashed.
VERY SERIAL gathered that that the Air Force plane which took off from Kaduna en route to Minna, the Niger state capital was on a casualty evacuation mission when the crash occurred. This is according to the Air Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet who confirmed the report.
Nigerian Air Force confirm one of its aircraft crashed
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 accident happened at about 1pm and the number of persons onboard or their state were unknown as of press time.
“The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
“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.
Recall that on February 22, 2021, seven NAF personnel on their way from Abuja to Minna, the Niger State capital, died when their plane crashed after takeoff from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.