Missing Air Force helicopter crew member found alive DHQ

The Defence Headquarters said on Wednesday that the missing crew member of the crashed Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 helicopter had been found alive.

This information was contained in a statement signed by Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, in Abuja.

The statement stated that the crew member, an engineer, earlier declared missing because his body could not be at then crashed site, resurfaced at the military headquarters in Maiduguri.

It is thus confirmed that Flt.- Lt. N.M Halilu, Co-Pilot and Warrant Officer Augustine Nwanonenyi, the aircraft technician survived the crash.

Flight Lieutenant Onyeka Nwakile was the only one lost in the crash and the family of the officer has been duly informed, the statement read.

The statement also said that the two survivors were in stable condition and receiving medical attention.

It stated that the search and rescue operation on the incident had been concluded but that investigation into the crash continues.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 helicopter on a training mission crashed on July 21,South of Bama, Borno.

The defence headquarters attributed the mishap to a technical fault.