A Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashed in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, on Friday morning.
Edward Gabkwet, the spokesperson for the NAF, confirmed the incident in a statement.The helicopter, with the registration number NAF MI-35P, crashed at 7:45 am shortly after taking off for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State.
Fortunately, all five crew members survived the crash with only minor injuries and are currently receiving medical attention at the NAF Medical Centre in Port Harcourt.Over the past two years, the frequent incidents of NAF helicopter crashes and resulting casualties have raised concerns among aviation and safety experts.
In July 2023, a Nigerian Air Force trainer aircraft on a routine training exercise crashed in Makurdi, Benue State.
The two pilots of the FT-7NI plane survived the crash after successfully ejecting from the aircraft.Similarly, in February 2023, the Nigerian Air Force’s maritime patrol aircraft on a routine flight lost its tires on a touch-and-go flight in Ilorin and had to carry out a controlled belly landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.In August 2023, a NAF MI-171 helicopter, which was on a casualty evacuation mission, crashed near Chukuba Village in Niger State, causing fatalities.
