Nigerian Air Force Reacts to Reports of Crashed Fighter Jet

Nigerian Air Force Reacts to Reports of Crashed Fighter Jet

  • The Nigerian Air Force has addressed the rumour surrounding the crash of a fighter jet during a military operation
  • A spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed that no life was lost in the incident
  • NAF in May 2021, suffered a tragic plane crash that led to the death of was a serving Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and other officers in Kaduna

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FCT, Abuja - The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed reports that Nigerian military plane, an Alpha jet, crashed during an operation.

According to Premium Times, the director of public relations and information of NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the crash did not occur in Kaduna as reports claimed.

Nigerian Air Force reacts, denies reports of another military plane crash emerge
Nigerian Air Force is pleased that no casualty was recorded in the crash. Photo: Nigerian Air Force HQ
Source: Facebook

The crash occurred in Zamfara state

NAF, however, confirmed that one of its aircraft crashed while returning from a successful air interdiction mission in Zamfara state.

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Breaking: Alpha jet aircraft crashes in Zamfara, photos emerge of rescued pilot

According to the spokesman, at about 12.45 pm on Sunday, July 18, a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft came under intense enemy fire following its mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna state.

Fortunately, the pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, survived after he successfully ejected himself from the aircraft.

He maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit where he sought refuge and was finally rescued.

The first batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft depart the US for Nigeria

Meanwhile, the first batch of 6 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft have departed the United States of America on Wednesday, July 14 en route to Nigeria.

A statement sent to Legit.ng by the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet on Thursday, July 15 noted that the 6 aircraft will be leapfrogged through 5 countries.

He said the countries are Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Algeria before arriving at their final destination in Nigeria towards the end of July 2021.

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Nigerian military begin manhunt for killers of army general

Gabkwet stated that an official induction ceremony of the aircraft into the inventory of the NAF is already being planned at a later date in August 2021 to be announced in due course.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Kess Ewubare avatar

Kess Ewubare Kess Ewubare is a former senior political/current affairs editor at Legit.ng. He has a diploma in-law in addition to a BSc and a master’s degree in mass communication. Kess is a journalist with over 10 years of working experience in several fields of journalism ranging from radio presenting, television news reporting, newspaper reporter, feature and magazine writing as well as online and multi-media journalism.