Nigeria 2011: Airforce plane conveying election materials forcelands

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Monday confirmed that one of its Mi-35 helicopters conveying Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) materials for the 2011 gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections from the south-south Rivers state capital, Port Harcourt, forcelanded near Igbonena landing pad in nearby Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.

NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas said in a statement that the helicopter forcelanded about 1pm Monday, “after one of its engines developed a mechanical problem”.

Anas said “the helicopter was promptly stabilized by the pilots and forcelanded. No one was hurt in the incident. There were INEC officials on the plane.

"An assessment team sent by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, had already visited the site of the incident," he said.

In order to ensure the forcelanding of the helicopter does not affect the distribution of INEC materials for the elections, Anas said “another Nigeria Air Force Mi-35 helicopter was used to airlift the INEC officials and materials to other parts of Bayelsa State.”

The Nigeria Air Force aircraft have been actively involved in the logistical distribution of INEC materials all over the country in the last four weeks.
-0- PANA MON/BOS 25April2011