The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed that one of its helicopters made an unscheduled landing on farmland in the Utur Tse-Igboji community in Makurdi, Benue State, following a combat mission against suspected kidnappers. The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, said the helicopter had been providing close air support to ground troops during an operation targeting criminal suspects in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area, near the Enugu-Benue boundary.
Precautionary Landing Explained by NAF Spokesperson
In a statement on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Ejodame clarified that the landing was a deliberate safety decision made by the pilot, not a crash or mechanical failure. He noted that the mission successfully disrupted the kidnappers' activities and helped advance the movement of ground forces in the area.
"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 added that the decision was "in accordance with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions," and confirmed that the helicopter had since returned to base.
Eyewitnesses Describe the Landing
Eyewitnesses who saw the aircraft land described it as touching down on a stretch of farmland within the community. The incident occurred just two days after a separate NAF aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, crashed into a swamp near a naval base in the early hours of Monday, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
Context of the Ondo Crash and National Mourning
In a statement on Tuesday, Ejodame said Chief of Air Staff Sunday Aneke described the Ondo crash as "a deeply painful moment for the air force and nation." No survivors have been found following the crash. President Bola Tinubu subsequently declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy. NAF confirmed that all 25 people on board NAF 931, including five crew members, died after the aircraft went down in Ondo State. The ATR 42 aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in the Igbokoda area. Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke ordered a full investigation and opened a condolence register at NAF Headquarters in Abuja.
