The Nigerian Air Force has debunked claims of its helicopter crashing in the early hours of Monday in Tami village, located in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In a statement on Monday, a spokesman for the NAF, Edward Gabkwet said it was an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), that crashed, not a helicopter.
Before the statement, sources stated that an eyewitness revealed that an Air Force helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force in the early hours of Monday crashed.
In reaction to the development, Gabkwet said, “A NAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle experienced a mishap after take-off for a mission, at a location near Rumji Village and about 15 Km from the Base. Since it is an unmanned vehicle, there were no casualties on board or on the ground.
“A preliminary investigation has since commenced to ascertain what may have caused the mishap. Nigerians can rest assured that this minor setback will not, in any way, impinge on all ongoing operations.”
Meanwhile, a team of Airforce personnel from the Nigerian Air Force Air Training Centre and 401 Flying School were said to have cordoned off the scene to secure the area for emergency rescue operations and also investigate the cause of the crash.
