The Nigerian Air Force NAF has announced that it has lost contact with one of its war planes, the Alpha-Jet, involved in the air operations against the Boko Haram/Islamc State in West Africa Province, ISWAP terrorists in Borno State.
NAF’s Director of Information and Public Relations, DOPRI, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who disclosed this Thursday, said that NAF has commenced search and rescue operations for the fighter jet which crashed on Wednesday evening in Borno State.
TheFact Nigeria reports, according to Gabkwet, that it is yet not clear if the aircraft crashed as a result of technical issues, or was shot down by the terrorists, as is widely speculated. However, he pledged open communication on the status of the aircraft and its crew.
“A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha-Jet has lost contact with radar in Borno State, while on interdiction mission in support of ground troops. The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 pm on 31 March 2021.
“Details of the whereabouts of the aircraft or likely cause of contact loss are still sketchy but will be relayed to the general public as soon as they become clear. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are ongoing”, the statement read in part.
