Two dead as Nigerian fighter jet crashes in Niger

Aviation Nigeria

A Nigerian fighter jet with two crew members on board crashed in Niamey, the capital of Niger on Monday 5 may 2013.

The jet crashed near Dargol in the Tillabery region which borders Mali.

Reports indicate the crew were taking part in military operations against al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants, in Mali.

Confirming the incident, spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas told newsmen that the plane was an Alpha jet stationed in Niger as part of a Nigerian squadron supporting the mission in Mali.

“An investigation is going on to find out what happened. They were on a normal routine flight about 60 km (37 miles) west of Niamey when something happened.” Anas said

Nigerian troops are part of the largest contingent in a West African regional force participating in the French-led campaign to drive Islamist rebels from the country’s desert north.

The cause of the crash is still unknown.

AOC for Dana Air and SkyJet Aviation.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has (re-)granted air operator’s certificates (AOC) to Dana Air and SkyJet Aviation.

Dana Air’s AOC was suspended in June this year after one of its aircraft crashed. The airline intends to resume domestic services with a fleet of five MD83s, but will only be allowed to start flying after fully compensating the families of the crash victims.

SkyJet Aviation is currently a charter airline, operating from Kaduna. According to the airline’s owner, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the new airline will begin scheduled flight operations with five aircrafts.