A Nigerian military aircraft travelling from Abuja International Airport (ABV/DNAA), Nigeria to Minna Airport (MXJ/DNMN), Nigeria has crashed near the runway of Abuja Airport, killing 7 people. The aircraft involved was a NAF Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft, operated by the 209th Executive Airlift Group (209th EAG), had just taken off from Abuja Airport. The aircraft crashed on the final approach path of Abuja Airport runway 22. Emergency services were immediately deployed to the scene, however, all onboard the aircraft were killed. A military spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force stated that engine failure is thought to have caused the crash. An investigation into the crash has now been ordered by The Chief of the Air Staff. The air force has not provided the names of those killed in the crash. Photos from the area show a charred and broken fuselage laying in a field. A witness described the moments leading up to the crash. "As he (the plane's pilot) was going down, he struggled to go back to the airport, at the end he just crashed," Alaba Lawal told reporters. "I just saw the whole thing explode, fire and smoke together. When I got there I saw dead bodies on the ground." Another witness, Olugbenga Alaade, said, "Everybody there was screaming full of disbelief." A government employee who said he has worked at the airport for nine years and who saw the crash said that it had been at least a decade since a plane has crashed at that airport.
Aircraft Information:Airline: Nigerian Air Force
Aircraft: Beechcraft King Air B350i
Registration: NAF 201
Serial Number: FL-585
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