A Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet crashed on Saturday near Karabonde in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, witnesses and military officials confirmed. The aircraft reportedly developed a sudden emergency shortly after taking off from the Air Force Base in Kainji.

Residents rushed out of their homes around 4.10 p.m. when they noticed the jet flying unusually low with smoke trailing behind, according to eyewitness accounts shared with Punch Online.

Eyewitnesses describe tense moments

A local resident, Lukman Sulaiman, told reporters over a phone call that the community initially feared an attack due to the loud impact.

He said the pilots steered the aircraft away from the town before ejecting.

“We saw an Alpha Jet flying close to our roofs with flames and smoke. It could have crashed inside the community, but the pilots controlled it and took it a distance away. They used their parachutes and landed safely,” he explained.

Sulaiman said the wreckage burst into flames and burned for about 30 minutes before military responders arrived from the nearby base with a fire truck.

Two separate videos reviewed by Punch Online also show the jet engulfed by fire.

Air Force confirms in-flight emergency

The Nigerian Air Force later issued a statement confirming the incident. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information, said the crash occurred during a post-inspection functional check flight at Kainji Air Force Base.

He said the crew demonstrated “remarkable composure” after detecting the emergency and ensured the aircraft did not hit populated areas.

According to the statement, both pilots are undergoing medical evaluation but are in stable condition.

Ejodame added that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, praised the pilots for their “courage, discipline and sound judgment” in preventing casualties.

A Board of Inquiry has been set up to determine the cause of the crash.

NAF pledges strong safety standards

The Air Force stressed that it remains committed to high safety standards and protecting civilian lives during operations.

Crashes involving military aircraft have drawn public concern in recent years, particularly in northern states grappling with security challenges. Analysts say the latest incident may renew calls for increased maintenance and modernisation of Nigeria’s air assets.

As of the time of publication, the military had not released further details on the status of the aircraft wreckage or ongoing safety checks at the Kainji base.