A military Beachcraft 350 aircraft has crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday, claiming all eight souls onboard including the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

It was learnt that the ill-fated aircraft crashed at the airport’s runway about 6 pm.

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, confirmed that the eight souls died onboard.

“Beachcraft 350. 8 souls on board. Unfortunately all dead,” Olateru wrote in a WhatsApp note obtained by The PUNCH.

Afriupdate had earlier reported that the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the crash on its Twitter handle, saying that one of its aircraft crashed in Kaduna, but gives no detail about the incident.

Meanwhile, Afriupdate have obtained a clip capturing the moment the aircraft conveying the Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Attahiru, others were crashed.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

Death Toll of NAF jets hit 17 in three months

Prior to the death of COAS Attahiru and seven others who were onboard a NAF Beachcraft 350 aircraft which crashed earlier today near the Kaduna International Airport; On Sunday, February 21, 2021, seven NAF officers died onboard a Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft when the jet crashed in Abuja. The jet en route Minna in Niger State crashed close to the runway of the Abuja airport after reporting engine failure.

In the following month, March , 2021, Two officers were onboard a controversial missing Alpha-Jet aircraft involved in the anti-terror war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province lost radar contact in Borno State. NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, declared that the jet crashed on Wednesday, March 31.

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