An operational Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet crashed on Saturday afternoon near Karabonde, a rural community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Both pilots on board managed to eject safely before the aircraft hit the ground, officials confirmed.
According to local accounts, the jet went down at about 4:10 p.m., several kilometres from Karabonde town.
Residents reported hearing a loud burst before spotting smoke rising from the crash site. No fatalities or injuries occurred, and the location, an isolated area—ensured that no homes or farmlands were affected.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air Force explained that the aircraft encountered a sudden malfunction shortly after it departed from the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kainji.
Ejodame said the pilots responded “with exceptional calmness and precision,” steering the aircraft away from populated settlements before activating their ejection seats.
Both officers were immediately retrieved and taken for standard medical examinations.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, applauded the aviators for what he described as exemplary courage and sound decision-making, noting that their actions averted what could have been a tragic incident.
Air Marshal Aneke has ordered a formal Board of Inquiry to determine the cause of the emergency, a procedure routinely activated after such incidents.
The Nigerian Air Force emphasised that it remains committed to maintaining strict safety protocols across its fleet.
It reassured Nigerians that all necessary steps are being taken not only to protect its personnel but also to ensure the safety of communities around operational areas.
The incident occurred during a post-inspection functional check flight, a standard procedure for verifying aircraft readiness following maintenance.
