The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has given an update on its fighter jet that went missing while providing support for ground troops fighting Boko Haram on Wednesday in Borno State.
NAF, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information, said the Alpha Jet might have crashed in action.
The statement also revealed the names of the pilot in the ill-fated jet as Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.
The statement read: ”Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) indicates that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with 2 crew members on board on 31 March 2021 might have crashed.
“The cause of the crash as well as the whereabouts of the 2 pilots remain unknown. The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.
“Extensive search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground.
“At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding the incident. It however remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued.”
The Alpha-Jet had lost contact with radar in Borno State, while on an 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.
The Alpha Jet has played a significant role in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign in the Northeast, with the Air Force employing both Alpha Jet E (Ecole) trainer and -Alpha Jet A ( Appui tactique) ground-attack variants.
The Alpha Jet A was acquired by the Air Force in 2014 from Air USA. The Jet and one of the aircraft NAF 476 delivered in 2018 are reported to have equipment onboard in support of night missions.
