Nigerian Air Force AW-109 crashes

NAF Director of Public Relations Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya said the Augusta-Westland 109 light utility helicopter crashed while conducting counter-insurgency operations against Islamist in the war-torn Maiduguri area.

Both pilots ejected safely from the aircraft and ditched it in water to minimise damage.

"The NAF pilots ditched the helicopter into a pool of water to minimise damages and loss of lives. Consequently, there were neither  injuries nor loss of lives to anyone aboard or on the ground,” Air Commodore Olatokunbo said.

There were no immediate details on the nature of the technical fault. Air Commodore Olatokunbo said the NAF Chief of Air Staff (COAS) has constituted a board of inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident.