The Nigerian Air Five (NAF) has confirmed death of five crew members aboard its combat helicopter that crashed on Wednesday night during air operation in Damask, Northern Borno state.
The helicopter crashed at about 7:45pm while providing close air support to ground troops of 145 Battalion in the area.
According to the update provided by the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the deceased personnel are: Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob – Pilot in Command, Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas (Co-Pilot.), Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim – Flight Technician, Lance Corporal Adamu Nura (Gunner), and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael (Gunner.)
“These gallant fallen heroes made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our Fatherland, for which the NAF, and indeed the entire Nation, owes them an unending debt of gratitude,” he said.
Daramola said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had commiserates with the families of the five fallen heroes and “prays that the Almighty grants their souls peaceful repose.”
“The CAS was in Maiduguri today, 3 January 2019, to convey the condolences of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammed Buhari, to personnel of the Air Task Force Operation LAFIYA DOLE over the unfortunate loss. While in Maiduguri, the CAS also received a condolence visit from the Chief of Army Staff, Lietenant General Tukur Buratai,” he said.
He said the remains of the deceased personnel had been recovered to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
