NAF In Fresh Aviation Storm: Helicopter Lands On Benue Farmland Just Two Days After Deadly Ondo Crash

By Passman Akpos

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that one of its helicopters made what it described as a “precautionary landing” on farmland in Benue State, just two days after the fatal crash involving NAF 931 in Ondo State.

The helicopter reportedly touched down on a farmland in Utur Tse-Igboji community, Makurdi, after providing close air support to Nigerian troops engaged in an operation against suspected kidnappers.

According to the NAF, the operation was conducted in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, close to the Enugu-Benue boundary, where ground forces were engaged in efforts to disrupt criminal activities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the helicopter successfully supported the ground troops before the pilot decided to make the precautionary landing while returning to base.

“Following the successful completion of the mission, the pilot, on return to base, exercised his professional discretion to execute a precautionary landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield,” Ejodame said.

He explained that the decision was consistent with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.

The NAF subsequently confirmed that the helicopter had returned to base, indicating that the incident did not result in a crash or reported casualties.

INCIDENT COMES TWO DAYS AFTER DEADLY NAF 931 CRASH

The Benue incident comes just two days after the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing all 32 people believed to have been on board, according to the information released following the disaster.

The aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed into a swamp opposite the naval base shortly after losing contact with air traffic controllers.

The tragedy prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare three days of national mourning.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described the crash as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the country.

Rescue and recovery efforts subsequently focused on the difficult swampy terrain where the aircraft went down.

FRESH SCRUTINY OF NAF AVIATION SAFETY

The latest Benue incident is likely to attract additional public attention because of its proximity to the Ondo tragedy.

Importantly, however, the NAF’s description of the Benue incident as a precautionary landing does not mean the helicopter crashed, and there is currently no official indication that the two incidents are connected.

Nevertheless, the development comes at a sensitive time for the Nigerian military, with questions already being raised about aircraft maintenance, operational readiness and aviation safety following the loss of NAF 931.

Tarakirivoice had earlier reported claims, citing reports attributed to SaharaReporters, that NAF 931 allegedly developed an engine problem after landing in Benin City before it was reportedly worked on overnight and subsequently cleared for its fatal flight to Lagos.

Those reports raised questions over who certified the aircraft fit to fly, what repairs were carried out and whether comprehensive post-maintenance checks were conducted before its final departure.

The Nigerian Air Force has not publicly confirmed those specific allegations.

QUESTIONS OVER NAF 931 REMAIN

The circumstances surrounding NAF 931’s final flight have continued to generate public interest, particularly allegations concerning a reported engine fault, the aircraft’s maintenance history and claims that the maritime patrol aircraft was sometimes used for VIP transportation.

NAF 931 was reportedly configured primarily for maritime surveillance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue and other security-related operations.

The aircraft also reportedly underwent extensive maintenance in Europe before returning to Nigeria in late 2024 after a prolonged period outside the country.

However, claims about its alleged VIP transportation role and any connection between its reported maintenance history and the crash remain unproven and require official confirmation.

The ultimate cause of the Ondo crash can only be established through a comprehensive technical investigation involving the aircraft wreckage, engines, maintenance records, flight data, crew actions and air traffic communications.

NO EVIDENCE LINKING BENUE LANDING TO ONDO CRASH

For now, there is no official evidence linking the Benue helicopter’s precautionary landing to the Ondo crash.

The NAF maintains that the helicopter completed its combat-support mission and that the pilot exercised professional discretion by landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield before subsequently returning the aircraft to base.

Still, coming only 48 hours after the NAF 931 tragedy, the Benue incident inevitably places renewed attention on the condition, preparedness and safety procedures surrounding Nigeria’s military aviation fleet.

The public will expect the Nigerian Air Force to maintain maximum transparency as investigations into the Ondo tragedy continue and as military aircraft remain heavily deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements across the country.

For the families of those lost in Ondo, however, the central question remains unanswered: What caused NAF 931 to go down, and could anything have been done to prevent the tragedy?

Until investigators publish their findings, those questions remain open.