Two soldiers were killed yesterday when their helicopter crashed in Bama, Borno state, the Defence Headquarters has said.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, said: “One of the pilots of the crashed Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 helicopter on a training mission earlier reported today, has been recovered alive while the second one as well as the technician on board the 3-member crew flight died in the crash. Rescue is still ongoing.”Olukolade, however, said there was no act of sabotage, stressing that the helicopter was on a training mission when it developed a technical fault.
Despite his explanation, there are insinuations that the copter might have been shot down by members of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Olukolade gave the assurance that investigation had already begun into the incident and that Nigerians would be kept abreast of developments.
The statement read in part: “A Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 helicopter on a training mission this afternoon, crashed due to technical fault at a location South of Bama. Investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances that led to the accident.
“Meanwhile, it is established that the crash is not as a result of any enemy action. Further details on the crash will be made known as soon as the investigation progresses.”
Source: Blueprint
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, said: “One of the pilots of the crashed Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 helicopter on a training mission earlier reported today, has been recovered alive while the second one as well as the technician on board the 3-member crew flight died in the crash. Rescue is still ongoing.”Olukolade, however, said there was no act of sabotage, stressing that the helicopter was on a training mission when it developed a technical fault.
Despite his explanation, there are insinuations that the copter might have been shot down by members of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Olukolade gave the assurance that investigation had already begun into the incident and that Nigerians would be kept abreast of developments.
The statement read in part: “A Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 helicopter on a training mission this afternoon, crashed due to technical fault at a location South of Bama. Investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances that led to the accident.
“Meanwhile, it is established that the crash is not as a result of any enemy action. Further details on the crash will be made known as soon as the investigation progresses.”
Source: Blueprint