Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet Goes Missing

A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet has gone missing.

The combat aircraft disappeared in the insurgency ravaged Borno State in North-East Nigeria, authorities said on Thursday morning.

The aircraft was on routine mission in the North-East but lost contact with the radar and its whereabouts unknown.

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“The plane was on the mission to support the Theatre Operation going on in the North-East” the Air Force said in a statement.

The statement was titled, ‘Nigerian Air Force Alpha-Jet Loses Radar Contact’. It reads, “A Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet has lost contact with radar in Borno State, while on interdiction mission in support of ground troops. The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 pm on 31 March 2021.

“Details of the whereabout of the aircraft or likely cause of contact loss are still sketchy but will be relayed to the general public as soon as they become clear. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are ongoing.”

The NAF spokesman, however, did not disclose the number of officers onboard the yet-to-be-found jet.

According to Wikipedia, a radar system is used at airports to detect and display the presence and position of aircraft in the terminal area and the airspace around airports. It is the main air traffic control system for the airspace around airports.

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