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| Scene of previous air crashes |
A
military fighter jet involved in the counter-insurgency operations in the
North-East on Wednesday night crashed at the Yola International Airport.
Two
pilots involved in the accident have been taken to an Air force military
hospital for medical treatment.
It
was gathered that the crash was as a result of a burst tyre which occurred
around 8pm on Wednesday when the fighter jet returning from a military
operation tried to land at the runway of the Yola International Airport.
The
two surviving pilots had succeeded in disembarking from the jet, but they
however sustained injuries in the process.
It
took the intervention of air safety officials to put out the fire which
engulfed the aircraft immediately after it crash-landed.
Military
authorities in Adamawa State, especially the 37 Air Force Base Strike
Group responsible for the aircraft involved in the counter-insurgency
operations refused to comment on the crash, claiming that they did not have the
authority to speak on the accident.
When
asked to comment on the incident, the base spokesperson, Squadron Leader K.
Ali, neither denied nor confirmed the crash. He asked newsmen to contact Abuja
because “I do not have the authority to speak on such matter.”
In
Abuja, the Acting Director Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar,
confirmed the incident. He said that the military had commenced investigation
into the cause of the accident.
He
also said that the incident had nothing to do with “enemy fire.”
According
to him, “The Air Force aircraft skidded off the runway and stopped at a ditch.
All those on board are unhurt and investigation into the minor incident is
ongoing.”
Meanwhile,
investigations revealed that Wednesday’s crash was the second of such an
incident within two weeks. No live was lost in the two occasions.
One
of the airport security operatives who did not want his identity revealed said
the frequency of air crashes at the airport involving fighter jets was becoming
a thing of worry to the military.
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