A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MI-35P helicopter has crashed at Port Harcourt during an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State today, 1 December 2023.

 

Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet stated this in a release, adding that the incident occurred at about 7.45am shortly after the aircraft took off for an operation in Rivers State. 

He added that, the entire five (5) crew on board 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, see to the wellbeing of the crew and give further directives. 

Incident of this nature is yet again a grim reminder of the dangers associated with military flying and the risks NAF pilots and technicians experience in their onerous tasks of defending our nation and deterring criminal elements from their nefarious activities.