The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said its MI-171 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed in Niger state.
Spokesman for NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, announced the incident in a statement on yesterday.
He said the helicopter crashed around 1 pm near Chukuba village in Shiroro local government area of the state.
Gabkwet said the aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna, but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba village.
The statement reads: “A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, 14 August 2023 at about 1.00 pm near Chukuba village in Niger state
“The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state.
“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.”
Recall that Gabkwet had yesterday announced the crash of a NAF trainer aircraft in Markurdi, Benue State.
He said the trainer aircraft came down during routine training adding that the two pilots who were on board were evacuated and taken to the NAF base hospital in Markurdi for treatment.
