The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed that a pilot was rescued after an aircraft crashed while returning from a successful air interdiction mission in Zamfara state.
According to the NAF director of public relations and information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, at about 12.45 pm on Sunday, a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft came under intense enemy fire following its mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna state.
Fortunately, the pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, survived after he successfully ejected himself from the aircraft. Dairo who came under intense ground fire from the bandits was able to elude them.
He maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit where he sought refuge and was finally rescued. The gallant pilot affirmed that the presence of NAF aircraft within the area of the crash site helped in scaring off the bandits who were after him.
Gabkwet noted that despite the setback of the crash, NAF remains committed towards fulfilling the president’s mandate.
Earlier, reports claiming that a Nigerian military plane, an Alpha jet, crashed somewhere in Kaduna state on Sunday have been dismissed by the Nigerian Air Force.
The director of public relations and information of NAF said that no crash occurred in Kaduna. An intelligence officer also denied reports of the military plane crash, saying a military jet conducted aerial bombardments of armed bandits in Zamfara, returned to base successfully.
He said the aircraft took off from Katsina for an anti-banditry operation against bandits in a neighbouring state.
Credit: EONS Intelligence
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