The Nigerian military has recorded several aircraft crashes and operational incidents in the past six years, resulting in the deaths of military personnel and as well as raising concerns over aviation safety.
DAILY POST reports that the incidents involved fighter jets, helicopters, trainer aircraft and transport planes operated by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF.
Below is a chronological list of major Nigerian military aircraft crashes and incidents recorded between 2021 and 2026:
February 21, 2021 in Abuja: A NAF Beechcraft King Air B350i aircraft crashed short of the runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting an engine failure while en route to Minna. All seven personnel on board were killed in the crash.
March 31, 2021 in Borno State: An Alpha Jet operated by the Nigerian Air Force and providing air support to ground troops in the North-East lost radar contact and crashed in Borno State. The two pilots on board were later presumed dead following prolonged search and rescue efforts.
May 21, 2021 in Kaduna State: A NAF Beechcraft King Air 350 crashed near the Kaduna Airport amid poor weather conditions. All 11 military personnel on board were killed, including the then-Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru.
April 2022 in Kaduna State: A Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crashed in Kaduna State during a routine training flight, both pilots on board were killed in the incident.
August 2023 in Niger State: A NAF MI-171E helicopter crashed in the Chukuba area of Niger State while on a casualty evacuation mission. The crash claimed the lives of 11 people among the crew and passengers on board.
December 6, 2023 in Rivers State: A NAF MI-35P helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The crew members survived the incident, and no fatalities were recorded.
December 2025 in Niger State: A NAF Alpha Jet experienced an operational emergency during a mission in Niger State, both pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft and survived the incident. No fatalities were recorded.
October 5, 2026 in Ondo State, the latest incident occurred on October 5, 2026, when an NAF ATR-42 transport aircraft, with tail number NAF 931, crashed in the swampy terrain of Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft was reportedly on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it. All 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, mostly military personnel, were killed in the crash.
Timeline of eight Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashes in six years