An Official of the Nigerian Air Force has expressed doubt on the recovery of the missing jet that went off the radar on Thursday.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement in the early hours of Friday.
Gabkwet, an air commodore, also added that two pilots were missing from the incident.
“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,”he said.
The Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) went off the rada on Thursday when it was carrying out a mission against Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State at about 6 p.m.
