The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed the death of 7 of its personnel in a fatal accident involving one of its Beechcraft King Air B350i in Abuja Airport today.
A statement in the Twitter handle of Nigerian Air Force (NAF,) Spokesperson, Daramola Ibikunle, AVM, said the Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure enroute Minna.
He confirmed that all 7 personnel on board died in the crash.
“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), I O Amao, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. While urging the general public to remain calm & await the outcome of investigation, the CAS, on behalf of all NAF personnel, commiserates with the families of the deceased”. His statement read.
Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika also confirmed the fatal crash of the twin-turboprop surveillance aircraft noting that the crashed happened after takeoff from the Abuja International Airport en route Minna, Niger State capital.
“A military aircraft King Air 350, has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure en-route 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,” Sirika wrote on Twitter.
Nigerian Air Force operates about four or five Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft, delivered in August 2014.
One was transferred from the presidential air fleet in 2015.
The aircraft, alongside others, is used for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions across the country.
It’s unclear if the aircraft was heading to Niger State as part of surveillance support to rescue schoolchildren abducted in Kagara or conduct a transport-logistics mission.
In September 2018, Nigerian Air Force FT-7NI and F-7NI conducting aerial display rehearsal collided midair over Abuja, forcing the pilots to eject. However, one pilot died.
