…..Visit 5 crew members that survived the crash of a Nigerian Air Force MI-35P Attack Helicopter.
By Gbemiga Olamikan
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has charged officers and men of the Air Force never to be discouraged as the hopes of millions of Nigerians rest on their shoulders. He said “the realization of these aspirations hinges on our ability to combat all forms of criminality that threaten our peace and stability.”
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar said this during his get well visit to the 5 crew members that survived crash of Nigerian Air Force MI-35P attack helicopter in Port Harcourt on Friday, 1 December 2023 and to encourage the personnel of 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG) as he assess the situation.
He went on to inform them to see air accidents or mishaps as impetus to propel all NAF personnel towards seeking improved safety management measures, while remaining undeterred and focused in tackling the myriads of security threats facing the nation.
According to the CAS, “Times like these are a sad reminder of the inherent risks in military aviation, especially when flying activities, occasioned by our current security challenges, have tremendously increased. As we continue to fly intensively, incidents are bound to occur. Nevertheless, we must continue to ensure we minimize the risk factors as reasonably practicable.”
This was contained in a statement signed by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force.
Air Commodore Edward State that Air Marshal Abubakar therefore encouraged Officers and Men to see the setback as a setup for a resilient comeback, channelling efforts toward thwarting the activities of economic saboteurs and countering oil theft.
He said , “Your actions were commendable and a decisive factor in mitigating the extent of damage to public property and loss of lives” he noted.
Speaking further, the CAS stated that 115 SOG has been well known for its gallantry and fighting spirit and the mere presence of the MI-35P helicopters on the battlefield has been a game changer. He said helicopters have, over the years, continued to strike fear deep into the hearts of terrorists and other criminals while at the same time boosting the morale of surface forces.
He then informed them that he had directed for the immediate commencement of the accident investigation, “So that we can learn exactly what happened and prevent future occurrences.”
