Alpha Jet Goes Down in Niger State — Heroic Pilots Cheat Death as NAF Launches Probe
By Paul Ebi
Karabonde, Niger State — Panic swept through the quiet community of Karabonde on Saturday as a Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet suddenly plunged toward the ground in a dramatic mid-air emergency. But in a stunning show of professionalism, both pilots survived after steering the doomed aircraft away from homes and ejecting to safety.
The terrifying incident unfolded around 4:10 p.m. when the jet, on a post-inspection functional test flight from Kainji Air Force Base, reportedly suffered a major technical failure. Witnesses described the aircraft “descending in agony,” before finally crashing in a remote bush path near the town.
In what officials are calling an act of extraordinary discipline, the pilots stayed with the failing jet long enough to divert it from populated areas — preventing an unimaginable disaster — before ejecting.
They were quickly recovered and placed under medical evaluation, with Air Force sources confirming they are in stable condition.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, hailed the duo for their “courage, discipline and sound judgement,” praising their quick-thinking response that saved civilian lives.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has set up a board of inquiry to uncover the exact cause of the malfunction that brought down the aircraft. The Force stressed its ongoing commitment to top-tier aviation safety and vowed to prevent a repeat of the incident.
The crash site has since been cordoned off, even as investigations kick into gear and the Air Force assures Nigerians that operational standards remain intact.
