Authorities of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) have stated on Friday that the Alpha Jet aircraft that went off radar in Borno state may have crashed.
The aircraft marked – NAF475 – had two crew members on board when it went missing on Wednesday in Borno State.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stated this while giving an update about the incident.
The cause of the crash and the fate of the NAF crew personnel remain unknown. The identity of the crew members are: Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.
Air Commodore Gabkwet stated that aerial surveillance teams, special forces and ground troops have launched a rescue operation.
He added that the Force remains hopeful that the crew will be found and rescued as soon as possible.
On February 21, the Nigerian Air Force lost seven of its personnel and one of its aircraft to a crash in Abuja.
The affected aircraft – Beechcraft KingAir B350i – crashed at Bassa village – just a few yards off the runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
While en route to Minna, the Niger State capital, the crew reported an engine failure and was on its way back to the airport before the aircraft crashed.
The late personnel were buried at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
