On Friday morning, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter crashed in Port Harcourt, in the Rivers State.The incidence was verified by NAF spokesman Edward Gabkwet in a statement.
Gabkwet reports that minor injuries were caused but no lives were lost.
Thankfully, all five members of the crew escaped the collision with only very minor injuries, and they are currently receiving care at the NAF Medical Center Port Harcourt.
A portion of the statement said, "Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff, is currently en route Port Harcourt to assess the situation for himself, look out for the crew's well-being, and give further directives."
Information surfaced that the NAF MI-35P helicopter crashed at precisely 7:45 a.m., just after it took out for an operation targeting economic saboteurs in Rivers State.
NAF MI-171 Helicopter crash at Chukuba Village, Niger State, August 2023; casualties reported.
Prior to the incident, the helicopter was conducting a casualty evaluation mission.
Additionally, in three months in 2021, three crashes involving NAF jets claimed the lives of at least twenty military officers.
A NAF Beach Craft 350 aircraft carrying the then-chief of staff of the Army, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and ten other people perished in the crash on May 21, 2021, close to Kaduna International Airport. In the horrific accident, all eleven military people perished.