Seven people died after a Nigerian military plane crashed near Abuja airport on Sunday morning, according to officials.
The Nigerian Air Force plane, Beechcraft KingAir B350i, had reported engine failure, military spokesman Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola tweeted.
He added that the plane was on the way to Minna.
Minna is a city about 110km northwest of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
The smell of burning chemicals lingered in the air but no fire or smoke was visible, a witness told the Reuters news agency.
The air force said an investigation into the crash was under way.
“We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military,” Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika said in a Twitter post.
Witnesses told local media they saw the plane struggling to turn around and get back to the airport before the plane exploded.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), @CAS_IOAmao, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. While urging the general public to remain calm & await the outcome of investigation, the CAS, on behalf of all NAF personnel, commiserates with the families of the deceased.
— Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola (@KunleDaramola3) February 21, 2021
BREAKING News:
Plane crash in Abuja close to the airport
At the moment, no survivor pic.twitter.com/xzecqivvXT
— KHAL BUSSIE 💙 (@iam_bussie) February 21, 2021