Victor Ezeja
AdminA Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter, on Friday, crashlanded and exploded at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, sparing the five persons on board with minor injuries.
NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the affected aircraft, NAF MI-35P, had taken off to embark on an operation against oil thieves in the state when it dropped off the sky.
“A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MI-35P helicopter has crashed at Port Harcourt today, December 1, 2023. The unfortunate incident occurred at about 7.45 am shortly after the aircraft took off for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State.
”Fortunately, the entire crew of five survived the crash with very minor injuries and are currently being attended to at NAF Medical Centre Port Harcourt,” the statement read.
Gabkwet further disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, is on his way to the scene to assess the situation.
“The Chief of Air Staff is currently en route to Port Harcourt to assess the situation for himself, 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 tasks of defending our nation and deterring criminal elements from their nefarious activities,” he added.
With the latest Rivers State crash, NAF has lost three helicopters within this year.
Specifically, on the 6th of February, 2023, a Nigerian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft crash-landed in Lagos.
The aircraft, a Cessna Citation CJ3 which was on a routine flight.
It had lost its tyres on touch and go flight in Ilorin and had to carry out a controlled belly landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries to any crew member and persons on the ground.
Similarly, on the 14th of July, 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 the crash after successfully ejecting from the aircraft.
Additionally, there was no loss of lives or damage to any property around the area of impact.
In the same vein, a NAF jet marked MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission also crashed on the 14th of August, 2023 at about 1:00 pm near Chukuba Village in Niger State.
All the casualties involved had since been buried accordingly at the military cemetery, Abuja.
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