Confirming the crash, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement said the aircraft was on a casualty evacuation mission when the incident occurred.
The statement further disclosed that the aircraft departed Zungeru Primary School on its way to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed in a village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
“A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, August 14, 2023, at about 1.1.00 pm Chukuba Village in Niger State,” the statement read.
“The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash.”
