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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