A Nigerian Air Force helicopter, on Friday, crash landed and exploded at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt.
By Emma Ogbuehi
A Nigerian Air Force helicopter, on Friday, crash landed and exploded at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt.
Though what led to the crash could not be immediately ascertained, it was learnt that the incident occurred around 7.50am.
The entire crew of five survived the crash with very minor injuries, our reporter gathered.
Confirming the crash in a statement, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the NAF MI-35P had taken off to embark on an operation against oil thieves in Rivers State.
He added that five persons on board survived with minor injuries
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The statement read, “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.’
He added that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, was 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”, the statement added.
The latest incident adds to the spate of NAF helicopters crashing forcing stakeholders to call on the military to uphold standard operating procedures and routine maintenance of its fleet.
In August 2023, NAF MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed near Chukuba Village in Niger State, leaving casualties behind.
In 2021, at least 20 military officers lost their lives within three months in three crashes involving NAF jets.
Then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others were onboard a NAF Beachcraft 350 aircraft that crashed on May 21, 2021 near the Kaduna International Airport. All the 11 military personnel died in the tragic accident.