NAF Pilots Escape Death as Alpha Jet Crashes in Niger
A Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet crashed on Saturday evening December 6, 2025, near Karabonde in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, sparking panic among residents but ending in relief as both pilots survived after successfully ejecting from the aircraft.
Local broadcaster Lapai TV first reported the incident in a Facebook post, confirming that the jet went down close to Karabonde and that the two pilots managed to eject before the crash. Videos circulating online, including those reviewed by Global Mirror News, showed flames billowing from the wreckage moments after impact.
Eyewitness accounts also reinforced the early reports. A resident, Lukman Sulaiman, told reporters that the aircraft appeared to take off from the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kainji before encountering trouble in the air.
According to him, the jet was already trailing smoke and flying unusually low as it approached the town.
“We saw the Alpha Jet coming down with smoke and flames. Thank God it didn’t crash inside the town. The pilots were able to control it and redirect it to an open area behind the community,” he said.
Sulaiman added that residents initially feared an attack when the aircraft hit the ground with a loud bang. Many fled, while others ran toward the scene after realising it was a crash. The pilots, however, had already parachuted to safety and were seen making their way back toward their base.
He noted that the fire from the jet burned for nearly half an hour before military personnel and a fire truck from the nearby base arrived to extinguish it.
Two separate videos obtained by Global Mirror News show the burning aircraft in an open field, with smoke rising high into the sky. No civilian casualties were reported.
NAF Confirms “In-Flight Emergency”
Hours after the crash, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the incident. Its spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced that the Alpha Jet suffered an in-flight emergency shortly after take-off during a post-inspection functional flight.
He said the pilots demonstrated “exceptional bravery and professionalism” by steering the malfunctioning jet away from residential areas before ejecting. Both officers are currently undergoing routine medical evaluation.
Ejodame said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has commended the pilots’ courage and quick judgment, crediting them with preventing potential loss of life.
He further disclosed that a Board of Inquiry has been set up to investigate the cause of the crash.
The Nigerian Air Force also reassured Nigerians of its commitment to strict safety protocols, operational discipline, and protection of lives and property.
