A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha-Jet has gone missing while on an operation in the north-eastern region of the country, authorities have said.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday.
He said the aircraft lost contact with radar while on an interdiction mission in support of ground troops fighting insurgency in Borno State.
Gabkwet, who noted that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening, explained that the mission was part of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North East.
According to him, authorities have commenced search and rescue efforts as details of the whereabouts of the aircraft have yet to be ascertained.
Read the full statement below:
NIGERIAN AIR FORCE ALPHA-JET LOSES RADAR CONTACT
A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha-Jet has lost contact with radar in Borno State, while on an interdiction mission in support of ground troops. The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 pm on 31 March 2021.
Details of the whereabouts of the aircraft or likely cause of contact loss are still sketchy but will be relayed to the general public as soon as they become clear. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
EDWARD GABKWET
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
1 April 2021
Wednesday’s incident came about a month and two weeks after seven NAF personnel were killed in a crash involving a military aircraft – just a few yards off the runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
The affected aircraft – Beechcraft KingAir B350i – crashed on February 21 at Bassa village in the nation’s capital while returning to the airport after reporting engine failure en route to Minna, the Niger State capital.
While the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, ordered an immediate investigation into the accident, the late personnel were buried at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
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