Nigeria Air Force Reacts As Aircraft Crashes In Niger State

The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has confirmed the crash of an MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Naija News earlier reported that the aircraft, on Monday, took off from Kaduna en route to Minna, the Niger state capital when the incident occurred at about 1:00 pm.

Reacting to the incident in a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Edward Gabkwet, said the aircraft was on a casualty evacuation mission when the crash happened.

He said that the aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Niger state.

Gabkwet said 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 reads: “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 aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route 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.”

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.