A helicopter from the Nigerian Air Force crashed in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, on Friday morning.
In a statement, NAF spokesperson Edward Gabkwet verified the incident, confirming that all occupants, while sustaining “minor injuries,” survived the crash.
The NAF MI-35P helicopter, assigned to an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State, went down at precisely 7:45 am shortly after takeoff.
“Fortunately, the entire crew of 5 survived the crash with very minor injuries and are currently being attended to at NAF Medical Centre Port Harcourt.”
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, is currently en route Port Harcourt to access the situation for himself, see to the wellbeing of the crew and give further directives,” the statement partly read.
The consistent occurrence of NAF helicopter crashes resulting in casualties has raised concerns among aviation and safety experts over the past two years. Stakeholders are urging the military to adhere to standard operating procedures and ensure regular maintenance of its fleet.
In August 2023, an NAF MI-171 Helicopter involved in a casualty evacuation mission crashed near Chukuba Village in Niger State, resulting in casualties.
In 2021, a series of three crashes involving NAF jets claimed the lives of at least 20 military officers within three months. One of the tragic incidents involved the Chief of Army Staff at the time, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others. They were onboard a NAF Beachcraft 350 aircraft that crashed on May 21, 2021, near the Kaduna International Airport, resulting in the unfortunate death of all 11 military personnel.