Authorities at the Nigerian Air Force have confirmed that one of its aircraft crashed in Niger State on Monday.
The spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in a statement said the aircraft left Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed in a village in Shiroro local government area of Niger.
He said efforts are being made to rescue the pilots and passengers on board the jet.
The statement reads, “A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, August 14, 2023, at about 1.1.00 pm Chukuba Village in Niger State.
“The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route 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”.