A Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft B300 King Air 350 was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff following a reported loss of engine power near near Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV/DNAA), Abuja, Nigeria. The seven people onboard perished.
The Nigerian Air Force NAF201, a B350 aircraft departed Abuja at 1033UTC with 7 persons on board including 2 crew.
The plane, a Beechcraft King Air 350i, was on its way to the city of Minna, 110 kilometers (68 miles) northwest of the capital, air force spokesman Ibikunle Daramole said in a statement.
The aircraft “crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure”, said Daramole. “First responders are at the scene. Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash.”
The list of five out of the seven-person onboard the ill-fated NAF 201 B350 aircraft. They were:
- Flt. Lt. Gazama
- Flt. Lt. Piyo
- Flg. Offr. Okpara
- FS Olawumi
- ACM Johnson
The chief of the air force has ordered an investigation into the accident, Daramole said.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement sent his condolences to the air force and families of the victims, saying he was “deeply saddened by the fatal crash”.
The Beechcraft King Air 350i is a twin-propeller aircraft made by Textron Aviation, a unit of the U.S.-based Textron Inc conglomerate. The model was first released around 2009.
