NAF: A History of Deadly Aircraft Crashes

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded several deadly aircraft crashes over the decades, with the Ondo disaster adding to the grim history.

The latest crash occurred in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, October 5. The military aircraft was carrying 25 people, including military personnel and civilians and unfortunately, there were no survivors.

The crash has renewed attention on some of Nigeria’s worst military aviation accidents. From transport planes to training aircraft and helicopters, several Air Force crashes have claimed dozens of lives over the years.

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Here are some of the major incidents:

Forcados Crash in 1980

On May 26, 1980, a Nigerian Air Force Fokker F27 aircraft crashed at Forcados in southern Delta State. The aircraft was travelling from Lagos to São Tomé, an island nation off the coast of Central Africa. It carried 30 people, including government officials, army officers, and journalists. All 30 people on board were killed.

Ejigbo Disaster in 1992

On September 26, 1992, a Nigerian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules crashed shortly after taking off from Lagos. The aircraft went down in Ejigbo, Lagos State, where all 159 people on board were killed, and most of the passengers were military officers, making the crash one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Nigeria’s history.

Kaduna Training Crash in 1997

On February 24, 1997, a Dornier Do 128 training aircraft crashed near Kaduna Airport. The aircraft came down about three kilometres from the runway, and all three people on board died.

Warri Crash in 2000

On October 26, 2000, another Dornier Do 128 crashed while approaching the runway at Warri Airport in Delta State, where all six people on board died. The crash occurred in Delta State, a major oil-producing region in southern Nigeria.

Benue Military Crash in 2006

On September 17, 2006, an 18-seater Dornier 228 military transport aircraft crashed in Benue State. The aircraft was carrying 15 senior army officers and three crew members, though only three people survived the crash.

Kaduna Cantonment Crash in 2015

In 2015, a Nigerian Air Force Dornier 228 crashed shortly after taking off from a military air base in Kaduna State. The aircraft lost control and crashed into a house inside a military cantonment, killing the seven people on board.

Attack Helicopter Crash in 2019

On January 2, 2019, a Nigerian Air Force attack helicopter crashed while supporting troops fighting a terrorist insurgency in northeastern Nigeria. The aircraft had been deployed to support military operations in the conflict-affected region, and five people on board were killed.

Beechcraft King Air Crash in 2021

On February 21, 2021, seven Nigerian Air Force officials died when a Beechcraft King Air aircraft crashed. The aircraft was travelling towards Abuja Airport after suffering an engine failure. It was heading to central Niger State for a reconnaissance mission before an operation to rescue kidnapped schoolgirls, according to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Kaduna Crash in 2021

Later that year, another Beechcraft King Air crashed while attempting to land at Kaduna Airport in May because of bad weather, as reported at the time. Unfortunately, all 11 people on board were killed; among the victims was Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, who was then Chief of Army Staff.

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Deborah Akwa

Deborah Akwa is a content writer with over four years of experience creating brand stories, editorial content, and audience-focused articles on topics like health, lifestyle, and entertainment.

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