Two aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have been involved in an accident.
This was disclosed on Friday in a statement signed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.
Daramola said the air accident occurred during rehearsals for the Independence day celebrations.
“I wish to confirm an air incident involving 2 Nigerian Air Force aircraft taking part in the rehearsals for the 58th Independence Day Celebrations,” he said.
Daramola did not state if the accident was a collision or a crash. Also, he did not explain if any casualty was recorded.
Eyewitnesses, however, claim that one person was feared dead in the incident.
Eye witness account reports that the one of the jet crashed inside a bush at Katampe Hill along Kubwa Expressway in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. It was said to have went up in flames before it eventually crashed.
The two jets, which crashed a few metres from each other, were part of those being used for the aerial display rehearsal ahead of Nigeria’s 58th Independence Day celebration on October 1.
According to Katampe residents, the two pilots escaped unhurt with the aid of parachutes.
