Breaking! Another NAF helicopter involved in air mishap in Makurdi
MAKURDI — There was palpable tension on Wednesday, 7th October, 2026, in Utur Tse-Igboji community, Bar Council Ward, Makurdi, Benue State, after a Nigerian Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing on a farmland following a technical fault.
The incident, which occurred along the Welfare Quarters to Mopol 13 Ring Road axis, almost turned into a tragedy but for the successful emergency landing.
An eyewitness who reported live from the scene, Mr. Stephen Ikpam, said the community almost witnessed a major disaster.
“Today, 7th October, 2026, my community of Utur Tse-Igboji, Bar Council Ward, Makurdi along Welfare Quarters to Mopol 13 Ring Road, almost witnessed a tragedy. By the grace of God, all lives on board were saved when a Nigerian Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing on our farmland due to a technical fault,” Ikpam stated.
According to him, residents rushed to the scene to support the officers on board immediately after the aircraft landed.
“We all rushed to the scene to support the officers on board, and to the glory of God, they all came out alive. It would have been a double tragedy if the helicopter had crashed. We thank God for sparing their lives,” he said.
He added that all personnel on board came out alive without any reported casualty.
As at the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force was yet to issue an official statement on the incident, including the number of personnel on board and the nature of the technical fault.
Emergency landing incidents involving military aircraft are not uncommon and are standard safety procedures when pilots detect technical issues mid-air.
Residents of the area have thanked God for averting what could have been a major disaster and prayed for the continued safety of security personnel.
“Reporting live from the scene. May God protect our security officers,” Ikpam added.
It could be recalled that an aircraft also belonging to the Nigerian Air Force a few days ago, had crashed in a riverine area of Ondo state, killing all crew members and other occupants. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and other notable Nigerian leaders and Service Chiefs had sent in their condolences sympathizing with everyone directly or indirectly affected by the air mishap.
