By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
A Nigerian Air Force helicopter has crashed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Friday, morning while on a mission against oil theft.
NAF’s spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the development in a statement where he said all those onboard survived though they sustained “minor injuries.”
The helicopter with the number NAF MI-35P crashed at exactly 7.45 a.m 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.
There have been crashes involving NAF helicopters in recent times across the country leaving casualties in their wake.
As a result, stakeholders had called on the military to uphold standard operating procedures and routine maintenance of its fleet.
Stonix News recalled that in August 2023, NAF MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed near Chukuba Village in Niger State, with casualties recorded.
In 2021, at least 20 military officers lost their lives within three months in three crashes involving NAF jets.
Most tragic was the one involving the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others who were onboard a NAF Beachcraft 350 aircraft which crashed on May 21, 2021 near the Kaduna International Airport leaving all the 11 military personnel mangled.
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