Seven persons have died after a military aircraft crashed land a few meters off the runway at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja.
The aircraft, NAF201 a B350 departed Abuja at 1033UTC and reported engine failure at time 10:39am and crashed landed on the final approach path of Abuja Runway 22 at time 1048UTC.
Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika confirmed the crash via his Twitter handle.
A military aircraft King Air 350 has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure enroute Minna. It appears to be fatal. We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military, while we pray for the departed soul/souls if any.🇳🇬🤲🏽😩
— Hadi Abubakar Sirika (@hadisirika) February 21, 2021
Also confirming the incident, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola.
Daramola said the Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure en route to Minna.
Vice Marshal Daramola further stated that first responders were already at the scene, adding that all seven personnel on board died in the crash.
According to the NAF spokesman, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao has ordered an immediate investigation into the accident.
