APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft, a MI-171 Helicopter, crashed on Monday in Niger State in northern Nigeria.
The spokesperson of the NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said in a statement that the helicopter was on a casualty evacuation mission before it crashed at about 1.00pm near Chukuba Village in the state.
According to Air Commodore Gabkwet, 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.
The NAF also stated that 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.
This crash comes two months after a NAF FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed in Makurdi, Benue State in northern Nigeria, while on a routine training exercise.
GIK/APA
Nigerian military helicopter on casualty evacuation crashes
