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A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter on a combat mission in Benue State made a precautionary landing on a farmland on Wednesday, just two days after an NAF aircraft crashed in Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board.
The helicopter had provided close air support to ground troops during an operation targeting suspected kidnappers in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area, near the Enugu-Benue boundary.
NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation disrupted the activities of the suspected kidnappers and supported the advance of ground forces.
He said the pilot, while returning to base after completing the mission, exercised his professional discretion to land about 10 nautical miles from the airfield.
“Following the successful completion of the mission, the pilot, on return to base, exercised his professional discretion to execute a precautionary landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield,” Ejodame said.
According to him, the landing was carried out in line with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.
“The helicopter has returned to base,” the NAF spokesman added.
Eyewitnesses had reported that the aircraft touched down on farmland in the Utur Tse-Igboji community of Makurdi.
The incident came shortly after Monday’s fatal NAF ATR-42 crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, which claimed 25 lives.
The Ondo aircraft, which was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, plunged into a swamp near a naval base. The NAF has since commenced an investigation into the cause of the crash, while recovery operations continue at the site.
The Ondo tragedy prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare three days of national mourning as authorities work to establish what caused the crash.
