A Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet crashed near Karabonde, a community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, on Saturday evening. The incident created panic among residents who witnessed the aircraft falling dangerously close to their homes. The crash has sparked renewed discussions about aircraft safety within the Nigerian Air Force and the operational challenges faced during training and surveillance missions.
The first public report came from Lapai TV, which is a digital television network based in Niger State. In a post on its official Facebook page, the station confirmed that two Nigerian Air Force pilots survived the crash. The update included a 57 second video that showed thick smoke rising from the crash site, along with villagers gathering at a distance while discussing what they had seen.
Additional details were later provided to Punch Online by eyewitnesses who recorded short videos and voice notes immediately after the incident. One witness said that the pilots managed to eject from the aircraft shortly before it hit the ground. He suggested that the aircraft might have taken off from the Kainji Air Force Base, which is one of the most active air force stations in the region. According to him, military personnel were already preparing to move toward the crash location once word of the incident reached the base.
Another resident, Lukman Sulaiman, confirmed the event during a phone conversation with Punch. He explained that the jet crashed at about 4.10 p.m. and that the sound of the impact was loud enough to send many people running out of fear. He described how the aircraft fell very close to the Karabonde community, and he expressed relief that the pilots had escaped without injury.
He said the following. “It landed very close to town, but God was so good, the pilots ejected safely. We heard a very loud crash that caused panic among everyone. People ran for safety at first, but after a while, villagers began gathering again to see what had happened.”
Two separate videos obtained by Punch show the Alpha Jet fully engulfed in flames while bystanders watched from a safe distance. The burning wreckage confirmed that the aircraft was completely destroyed. Despite the severity of the fire and the shock of the incident, no casualties were recorded among civilians or the pilots at the time this report was compiled.
As of now, the Nigerian military has not released an official statement about the cause of the crash. There is no information yet about whether the aircraft experienced engine failure, technical issues or environmental challenges during flight. Investigators are expected to assess the debris, question the pilots and gather eyewitness reports to determine what led to the incident. Updates are expected once official findings are made public.
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