Nigerian Military Aircraft Crashes, Explodes in Port-Harcourt

A Nigerian Military Aircraft has crashed in Port-Harcourt.

Newsone reports Nigeria Air Force (NAF) helicopter has crash-landed and exploded at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, south-south Nigeria.

This online news platform understands that the Nigerian Military Aircraft crash was confirmed in a statement issued by the NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet on Friday morning, December 1, 2023.

The NAF spokesman said all those onboard survived though they sustained “minor injuries”.

“The helicopter with the number NAF MI-35P crashed at exactly 7.45 am shortly after it took off for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State.

“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.

Meanwhile, Newsone Nigeria recalls that the same incident happened at the NAF base in May 2013 when a military aircraft crash-landed in Port Harcourt after it developed “an emergency.”

A source in the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) revealed that the vehicle involved was one of the helicopters and was on a routine training mission. The two crew members forced the chopper to land after it developed “an engine problem,” he had said.