JUSTIN: Tragedy As NAF Helicopter Crashes In Niger

A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter carrying out a mission to evacuate casualties on Monday, crashed close to Chukuba Village in Niger State.

In a statement, NAF spokesman Edward Gabkwet acknowledged the mishap.

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The number of passengers onboard or their condition were unknown as of the time of filing this report when the accident occurred at around 1pm.

The statement read, “The plane had left Zungeru Primary School for Kaduna, but it was later found to have crashed close to Chukuba Village in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area.

“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.”

On February 22, 2021, a jet carrying seven NAF personnel that was travelling from Abuja to Minna, the capital of the Niger State, crashed shortly after takeoff.