The Nigerian Airforce on Friday confirmed that one pilot died and another was seriously injured in an accident involving two of its jets in Mashafa area of Mpape, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the early hours of the day.
The aircraft were said to be taking part in the rehearsals for the upcoming 58th Independence Anniversary when the jets reportedly collided, leading to the crash.
The NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who confirmed the accident stated in his twittle handle later after the mishap that one of the pilots died while the other sustained serious head injuries requiring urgent surgery.
He twitted: Adaramola clarified further on the crash on his twitter handle thus: “It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce that one of the pilots who successfully ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft that crashed earlier today has passed on. May his soul RIP”.
He stated that one of the jet’s wings clipped the other, forcing both aircraft to crash.
“Only one of the pilots was able to eject, the other one couldn’t (he is one of the best pilots in the Airforce) and he died on the spot”, Daramola added.
According to him, the pilot that ejected did not land well and therefore sustained a serious head injury requiring urgent surgery.
The NAF’s spokesman promised to provide additional details on the incident will be communicated later.
