The Nigerian Air Force has announced that one of its Alpha Jet Aircraft has crashed in Zamfara and the pilot, a Flight Lieutenant rescued
A statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed that the aircraft was returning from a successful air interdiction mission when it crashed after a severe attack by bandits.
‘’On 18 July 2021, at about 12.45 pm, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna State, came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State’’.
‘’Luckily, the gallant pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft. Using his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was able to evade them and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting sunset’’ the statement said.
However, Flight Lieutenant Dairo was able to elude several bandits’ strongholds and maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit, where he was finally rescued, deploying his phone to navigate the troubled area.
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Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, had directed that all efforts be put in place to rescue the pilot shortly after the crash occurred, with all NAF Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and helicopter gunships, mobilized to provide close air support to NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops who located the crash site and the pilot’s parachute.
The Air Force noted that it will not be deterred by the crash but will continue to carry out is constitutional roles of flushing out all criminal elements in Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states in line with the President’s directive, besides the numerous successes it has recorded neutralizing hundreds of bandits and destroying their hideouts in multiple raids carried out in the last two weeks.
