At Port Harcourt, the state capital of Rivers State, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MI-35P helicopter crashed and detonated on Friday morning.
Although the cause of the crash is still unknown, all five crew members on board were miraculously spared and sent to a military facility for immediate medical attention.
NAF spokesman Air Cadre Edward Gabkwet, citing information from Leadership, stated that the incident happened at around 7:45 a.m., just after the helicopter took off for an operation in Rivers State that was intended to target economic saboteurs.
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Gabkwet stated, “Fortunately, the entire crew of five 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 Hassan Abubakar, has moved quickly, travelling to Port Harcourt to personally evaluate the situation.
His main priorities are making sure the crew is safe and giving further instructions in reaction to the crisis.
The incident, according to Gabkwet, is a clear reminder of the risks that come with flying for the military.
He recognised the dangers that NAF technicians and pilots endure in their vital duty of protecting the country and discouraging criminal elements from committing heinous acts.
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The Nigerian Air Force is committed to putting the security and well-being of its members first while carrying out essential tasks to defend the nation, even while inquiries into the incident get underway.
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