By Aduragbemi Omiyale
No fewer than seven persons have been confirmed dead when an aircraft belonging to the military crashed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday afternoon.
The small plane was said to have dropped from the sky after the pilot complained of an engine failure while returning to Abuja en route to Minna, Niger State.
It was said to have crash-landed near the airport’s runway, killing all the seven persons in the plane, according to a spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Mr Ibikunle Daramola.
Mr Daramola, an Air-Vice Marshall, is the Director of Public Relations and Information Headquarters of the Nigerian Airforce. He also confirmed that the affected plane was Beechcraft KingAir B350i.
According to him, an investigation into the incident has been ordered by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Mr Isiaka Amao, who he said has also commiserated with the families of the deceased.
“This is to confirm that a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure en route Minna. First responders are at the scene. Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash.
“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), @CAS_IOAmao, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
“While urging the general public to remain calm and await the outcome of the investigation, the CAS, on behalf of all NAF personnel, commiserates with the families of the deceased,” a statement from Mr Daramola said.
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Adedapo Adesanya