The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified that it was an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), not a helicopter, that crashed in the early hours of Monday in Tami village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
NAF spokesman Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Monday, explained, “A NAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle experienced a mishap after take-off for a mission at a location near Rumji Village, about 15 kilometers from the Base.
Since it is an unmanned vehicle, there were no casualties on board or on the ground.”
Gabkwet assured the public that a preliminary investigation has commenced to determine the cause of the mishap.
“Nigerians can rest assured that this minor setback will not, in any way, impede ongoing operations,” he added.
Following the incident, Air Force personnel from the Nigerian Air Force Air Training Centre and 401 Flying School cordoned off the crash site to secure the area for emergency rescue operations and to investigate the cause of the crash.
Initially, local residents reported that a NAF helicopter had crashed in Tami village, causing alarm among the community.
It was believed that the helicopter, on a routine operational flight, encountered technical difficulties leading to the crash.
Fortunately, the pilot was able to execute emergency protocols and emerged from the wreckage largely unscathed.
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