The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has debunked widespread reports that one of its helicopters, Bell 429 5NMDA, flying from Abuja to Bauchi on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, had crashed.
The Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, CP Frank Mba, cleared the air in a statement issued today, 27 January, and made available to the press.
TheFact Nigeria reports that according to some news media outlets, the helicopter which took off from Abuja crashed at the Bauchi Airport Wednesday, and that the mishap had been disclosed by the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, on Thursday.
According to AIB, “the accident occurred on 26th January 2022 around 7:30pm (Local Time) at Bauchi Airport. The bureau had further disclosed that, “there were some injuries but no fatality,” and that it was soliciting public support “to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clips, evidences, or information any member of the public may have of the accident that can assist us with this investigation.”
Reports were that AIB had said the cause of the accident should not be assumed “until a formal report is released.”
According to CP Mba however, “the aircraft did not crash as being reported in some sections of the media and none of the occupants sustained any injury whatsoever. All six (6) on board including the pilot and co-pilot are in good condition”.
Similarly, the aircraft, which was flown by one of the best Police Pilots, was professionally safe-landed with minor damage on the rear rotor as a result of an obstacle at the landing spot. The incident occurred around 7:30PM (local time).
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has commended the Police Air-Wing for their professionalism in safe-landing the aircraft and averting any serious air-mishap.
He further noted that the Nigeria Police Air-wing – with a fleet of one fixed-wing aircraft, a citation jet and thirteen (13) helicopters – has got a strong history of air safety since its establishment in the year 1972.
