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On February 2, 2019, the then Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, miraculously survived a helicopter crash in Kabba, Kogi State, while on a presidential campaign tour ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The crash occurred as Osinbajo and his team flew into Kabba to mobilise support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and himself, under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The helicopter, an AgustaWestland AW139 with registration number 5N-CML, was operated by Caverton Helicopters and had departed Runway 22 of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 1:46 pm.
Reports indicated that weather conditions were clear, and the initial flight was smooth, with the aircraft cruising at 5,000 feet above sea level.
However, at 2:20pm, the multi-purpose flight recorder (MPFR), which functions as both the cockpit voice and flight data recorder, failed.
At 2:34 pm, the chopper crash-landed, striking the ground on its right landing gear and tilting to one side. All 12 occupants, including the Vice President, escaped unhurt.
Marking the 7th anniversary of the incident, Osinbajo’s former media aide, Laolu Akande, shared fresh details via a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), revealing that the then Vice-President resumed campaigning less than an hour after the crash.
Akande wrote, “And then within the hour, Osinbajo led us right back to the campaigns. He didn’t agree with suggestions that we should abandon the work and go rest!
“Such was the courage on display and the determination in our hearts. So to GOD ALMIGHTY we give all the glory for our lives!”
He added in the post a praise refrain, “E BA MI YIN JESU L’OGO, AMEN, E BA MI YIN JESU LOGO, AMEN! ALAGBAWI EDA…”
The Kabba crash was Osinbajo’s second helicopter-related scare within a year.
On June 7, 2018, a chopper that had conveyed him to the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, developed a technical fault shortly after takeoff and was forced to land.
Akande had explained at the time that the vice-president returned to the Presidential Villa by road “due to technical reasons.”
Osinbajo had attended the graduation of Senior Division Course 1/2018 participants and was originally scheduled to return in the same aircraft.
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