A military aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff, on board, has crashed.

Thelagostimes gathered that the crash happened on Friday around the Kaduna international airport.

Edward Gabkwet, NAF spokesman, confirmed the incident but did not name the casualties.

According to him, the “immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained”.

A source at the airport told TheCable that eight persons were involved in the accident, but the identity of the victims hadn’t been confirmed at the time of the report.

The crash was also said to have occurred around 6pm.

Military sources who spoke with TheCable said the army chief was on board with a few of his aides.

“They were almost landing when the aircraft lost its balance and crashed inside the bush,” a source said.

Another source said Attahiru was on his way to Kaduna to attend a passing-out parade for some recruits scheduled for Saturday, adding that “heavy rain” contributed to the crash.

Recall that earlier in February, a NAF aircraft crashed in Abuja after reporting engine failure en route Minna.

All seven personnel on board died in the Abuja incident.