Independence Day tragedy: NAF jets crash, pilot dies

Two aircraft belonging to The Nigeria Air Force crashed near Abuja while rehearsing for the Independence Day celebration  Friday morning, and one of the pilots died after ejecting from the jet.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, confirmed this in a statement issued on Friday.

The statement read in part, “It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce that one of the pilots who successfully ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft that crashed earlier today has passed on.

“May his soul rest in peace. Additional details on the incident will be communicated,” Daramola said.

Two NAF aircraft had crashed in the Federal Capital Territory when they were performing rehearsals for Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary on Friday.