UPDATED: Aircraft crashes in Abuja, NAF confirms seven dead

A military aircraft King Air 350 has reportedly crashed in Abuja .

The crash, according to preliminary reports, was due to engine failure.

Although details of the crash remained scanty as of the time of filing this report , airport sources said the plane crashed in a village near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

It was gathered that the Military aircraft which had about six persons on board departed around 10.30am on its way to Minna, Niger State, and crashed 15 minutes after take off.

The aircraft developed an engine failure around 10.39am and eventually crashed around 10.48am.

Confirming the incident via his Twitter handle, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika wrote:

“A military aircraft King Air 350 has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure enroute Minna. It appears to be fatal. We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military, while we pray for the departed soul/souls if any.”

Meanwhile, the pilot of the  military aircraft has been adjudged a hero by a witness to the fatal crash.

According to the witness, Imoleayo Michael, the aircraft was heading towards a residential area and would, thus, have crashed into buildings resulting in a higher number of fatalities, but he saw the brave Pilot maneuver the plane away from that course to a bushy area where it crashed and burst into flames.

All onboard the aircraft were feared dead. Michael tweeted on his Twitter handle “The pilot is a hero! This aircraft should have crashed into the residential area but we watched him maneuver into a free bush to crash.”

In a latest development, Nigerian Air Force high command has confirmed that seven persons died in the military aircraft that crashed in Abuja

NAF spokesperson, Ibikunle Daramola, confirmed via his Twitter handle @KunleDaramola3 that seven (7) personnel died, adding that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, has ordered immediate investigation.

“This is to confirm that a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure enroute Minna. First responders are at the scene. Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash.

“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), @CAS_IOAmao, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. While urging the general public to remain calm & await the outcome of investigation, the CAS, on behalf of all NAF personnel, commiserates with the families of the deceased,” Daramola tweeted

Below are names of five out of the seven persons onboard the ill-fated NAF 201 B350 aircraft:

1. Flt. Lt. Gazama,

2. Flt. Lt. Piyo,

3. Flg. Offr. Okpara,

4. FS Olawumi, and

5. ACM Johnson.