Military Air Crash: Nigerian Air Force Insists Its planes are in good health

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has insisted that its aircraft were in good health.

According to NAF, most of the aircraft in the arsenal of the force were in good health, and adequately maintained.

While speaking to ThisDay Newspaper in an interview on Monday, Air Force Spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the planes involved in recent military crashes were purchased brand new in 2015.

His comments are against the backdrop of three aircraft belonging to NAF involved in fatal crashes in Abuja, Borno and the latest one that claimed the life of the army chief, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru in Kaduna on Friday.

A total of 21 personnel of the air force and army have been killed in the three crashes this year .

But according to Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, air force aircraft, especially Beechcraft, the brand that crashed were not outdated.

“You can even debunk that by going to the internet. Beechcraft is an American aircraft.

“They were purchased brand new. The aircraft are new considering some other aircraft. The age of an aircraft does not determine its serviceability,” he said.

He called for continued support for the air force.

“The air force belongs to Nigerians and we need their support,” he added.

Speaking on the latest incident, he said: “It is an unfortunate situation. The chief of air staff is not happy that air crashes happened under him.

“The weather was not good that evening and the plane had almost landed but there was strong wind,” he said.