The Nigeria Police Force has denied reports of its Helicopter, Bell 429 5N-MDA, crashing in Bauchi state.
The Accident Investigation Bureau AIB had in a statement released today, said the helicopter owned and operated by Nigeria Police Force was involved in an accident on Wednesday, January 26. Though the AIB said there was no fatality, the accident bureau claimed that “there were some injuries.”
Debunking AIB’s claim, the police spokesperson, CP Frank Mba, said the helicopter landed safely and there was no injury recorded.
The police’s statement read
”The Nigeria Police Helicopter, Bell 429 5N-MDA, flying from Abuja to Bauchi on Tuesday, January 26, 2022, was involved in a controlled safe landing at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi. The aircraft did not crash as being reported in some sections of the media and none of the occupants sustained any injury whatsoever. All six (6) on board including the pilot and co-pilot are in good condition.
Similarly, the aircraft, which was flown by one of the best Police Pilots, was professionally safe-landed with minor damage on the rear rotor as a result of obstacle at the landing spot. The incident occurred around 7:30PM (local time).
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has commended the Police Air-Wing for their professionalism in safe-landing the aircraft and averting any serious air-mishap. He further noted that the Nigeria Police Air-wing – with a fleet of? one fixed-wing aircraft, a citation jet and thirteen (13) helicopters – has got a strong history of air safety since its establishment in the year 1972.”the statement read
