Nigeria witnessed 14 military air crashes under president Buhari's tenure, experts cite maintenance issues as main cause

Nigeria witnessed 14 military air crashes under president Buhari’s tenure, experts cite maintenance issues as main cause

During the period between 2015 and 2023, Nigeria experienced a total of 14 military air crashes resulting in the loss of 15 aircraft, according to reports.

These incidents led to the tragic deaths of at least 33 military personnel, while the fate of two others remains unknown.

Despite assurances from the Nigerian Air Force, the specific causes of these crashes have not been publicly disclosed. However, experts largely attribute the mishaps to inadequate aircraft maintenance.

Despite the addition of the Super Tucano jet, the crashes have not only incurred financial costs for the military but have also depleted their fleet of aircraft.

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Various notable crashes occurred during this time, including the tragic incident on May 21, 2021, when a military Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at the Kaduna International Airport, claiming the lives of 11 individuals, including the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

Other crashes involved factors such as bandit attacks, technical malfunctions, and collisions during flight rehearsals.

Security experts,Timothy Avele, have pointed out that the high number of crashes during President Buhari’s tenure may be attributed to factors such as poor maintenance culture, inadequate implementation of airworthiness policies, and concerns about the quality of spare parts supplied for aircraft maintenance.