What would have been a major tragedy in Nigeria’s military circles was yesterday narrowly averted, when a military aircraft crashed at the Yola International Airport.
Though the aircraft was damaged, no casualties were recorded as the pilot and other crew members escaped unhurt.
Newly sworn in governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala Ngillari was among those who were stranded at the airport, following the incident. The incident affected the departure of the governor who was billed to depart for Abuja on an official assignment.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the aircraft was on a mission to convey injured soldiers from Yola to Kaduna State for treatment before the unfortunate incident. The incident occurred at about midday when the aircraft was yet to carry the wounded soldiers.
The airplane was on the verge of landing at the international airport when it suddenly changed direction and
crashed causing pandemonium in the vicinity, a source at the airport said.
A military source who preferred anonymity told newsmen that the military aircraft was on a mission to airlift wounded soldiers from Yola to Kaduna when the incident occurred. He however dismissed the accident as a minor one, saying the aircraft only suffered mild damage.
The incident, according to airport sources, delayed landing and take-off of other airplanes as some of them had to be diverted to other airports.
As at the time of filing this report, normalcy had returned at the
airport as full activities had resumed. Airport officials have however maintained sealed lips over the incident as they said it was strictly a military affair.
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