Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet reportedly crashed on Saturday evening near Karabonde community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Local sources said the aircraft went down a short distance from the town after developing a fault mid-air. Fortunately, the two pilots on board survived the crash.
Details of the incident remained sketchy as of the time of filing this report, but eyewitnesses described the pilots’ escape as “miraculous.”
One resident recounted how the aircraft flew unusually low with “smoke and flames,” sparking panic among villagers.
“We saw the Alpha Jet descending close to our roofs with smoke. Thank God it didn’t crash inside the town. The pilots were able to control it and moved it away from our homes. They eventually ejected safely with their parachutes,” the source said.
He added that the loud explosion after the crash caused widespread fear, with some residents initially assuming the community was under attack.
“People ran out in fear, but when we got to the scene, we saw the pilots had already ejected. They were later taken back to their base. The plane burned for about 30 minutes. Our town shares a boundary with the military base, so soldiers and a fire truck arrived quickly,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the crash in a statement, explaining that the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency shortly after take-off during a post-inspection functional check flight at NAF Base Kainji.
He said the pilots demonstrated professionalism by steering the jet away from populated areas before ejecting and were currently undergoing medical evaluation.
“NAF commends the exceptional bravery and professionalism of its Alpha Jet pilots who safely ejected following an in-flight emergency on 6 December 2025,” Ejodame said. “They acted swiftly and with remarkable composure, expertly manoeuvring the aircraft away from populated areas before executing a safe ejection.”
He added that both pilots are stable and receiving routine medical attention.
