Findings have revealed that nobody jumped out before Attahiru’s plane crashed!
Gatekeepers News has been receiving messages to help confirm a trending video on social media where eyewitness of an air mishap narrated how two Military personnel jumped out of the plane with a parachute before it crashed. Initially, we had individually replied to these messages but since they keep coming it has become necessary for Gatekeepers News to torchlight the truth ascertain the veracity of the claim and to confirm if it was the same with Friday’s incident that claimed the life of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers.
Gatekeepers News didn’t need to dig deep as from our archival materials we can establish that authenticity or otherwise of the trending video.
Gatekeepers News can tell you that the ill-fated plane in the now trending video is not the same plane that conveyed Attahiru and others.
The viral video was that of the 2018 incident which happened during rehearsal for an aerial display to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary.
Unlike Attahiru’s plane crash which left no survivor, three officers jumped out of the plane in 2018 but one was later confirmed dead.
Gatekeepers News dug further to make available the confirmation made by the Nigerian Airforce concerning the incident in 2018;
“Two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni aircraft taking part in the rehearsals for the aerial display to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary Celebrations were involved in an air incident today, 28 September 2018.
“The air mishap necessitated the 3 pilots to eject from their aircraft, which subsequently crashed in the general area of Katamkpe Hill. Regrettably, however, one of them later died due to complications from injuries sustained upon impact on the ground. Thankfully, there were no civilian casualties.
“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, commiserates with the family of the deceased officer. The CAS has also instituted an air crash investigation to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident,” NAF’s Public Relations officer, Ibikunle Daramola had confirmed that year.
It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce that one of the pilots who successfully ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft that crashed earlier today has passed on. May his soul RIP. Additional details on the incident will be communicated later. Thank you
— AVM IO Daramola (@KunleDaramola3) September 28, 2018
The officer who died in 2018 was Sqn Ldr Baba Ari.
It is with great devastation that we recieved the news of the death of Sqn Ldr Baba Ari, who have crashed during a drill in preparation for #NigeriaAt58
He was a young soldier full of life & promise. A good example of a true Nigerian Youth & Patriot
May His Soul Rest in Peace! pic.twitter.com/RbQYdNSj2r
— Bello Shagari (@Belshagy) September 28, 2018
Conclusion: Gatekeepers News can confirm that the trending video happened in 2018 and has no connection with Friday’s incident that claimed Attahiru’s life.
