NAF raises panel as jet crashes in Benue

A training jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force on Friday crashed in Makurdi, Benue State capital, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Details about the incident are still sketchy as of the time of filing this report.

A military source said two personnel of the Nigerian Air Force onboard the aircraft ejected unhurt.

The source said, “An FT7-NI aircraft crashed today in Makurdi. The cause of the crash could not be immediately ascertained. It had two airmen onboard.  They ejected unhurt from the jet.  “

The spokesperson for the service, Air Commodore, Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday.

He said the crashed occurred during training, adding that the pilots were ‘’under observation’’ at the NAF Base hospital.

Gabkwet, however, said the Chief of Air Staff had instituted a board to investigate the cause of the crash.

The statement read, “A Nigerian Air Force FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed today, July 14, 2023 at about 4.15 pm in Makurdi, Benue State, while on a routine training exercise.

“Luckily, the two pilots on board survived the crash after successfully ejecting from the aircraft. Additionally, there was no loss of lives or damage to any property around the area of impact.

“Both pilots are currently under observation at NAF Base Hospital, Makurdi. Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has constituted a Board of Inquiry to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.”

The PUNCH reports that in February 2023, the Air Force was fortunate not to have recorded a crash after one of their jets lost its tyre mid-air and made an emergency landing at Lagos Airport on its belly.

Also, in April 2022, a trainer aircraft crashed in Kaduna, killing two pilots on board.