Police helicopter safe-landed with minor damage – Mba

Nigeria Police Force (NPF) public relations officer, CP Frank Mba, has clarified information around the earlier reported crash of the force’s helicopter in Bauchi.

Mba said the helicopter, Bell 429 5NMDA, flying from Abuja to Bauchi on Wednesday, 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,” Mba clarified in a statement he issued Thursday.  

According to the police spokesman, the aircraft was flown by “one of the best Police Pilots” and was “professionally safe-landed with minor damage on the rear rotor as a result of obstacle at the landing spot”.

READ: Police helicopter with 6 passengers crashes in Bauchi

The incident, he said, occurred at about 7:30PM (local time).

Mba added that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has commended the police air-wing for its 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. Earlier reports suggested that the six passengers on board the helicopter had sustained injuries, even though there was no fatality.