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comments: We just bought that jet last year from China!!! Dont you see the "new" trains(locomotives) we just bought from Brazil as well? Brazil is currently modernizing their railways, the old 1914 locomotives the country is disposing were what Nigeria is importing and calling it their own modernization of rails, this is a sick country. 

A Nigeria Air Force fighter jet crashed yesterday at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport following an alleged equipment malfunction killing the pilot, the only passenger on board.

An eyewitness account at the airport said the fighter jet; took off from Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on a training mission. The Nigeria Air Force, later in a statement confirmed the crash. It added that the F7-Ni aircraft was on a routine training exercise from Makurdi and relocated to Kano on March 18 for a routine training exercise for two weeks. The statement added that Air Force headquarters has set up an accident investigation panel to investigate the crash while further details on the crash “will be made known as soon as the family of the deceased pilot is informed.” Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Mohammed Dikko Umar has already sent a delegation of senior Air Force officers to commiserate with the family.

Sources say the jet fighter caught fire while trying to land and crashed on the runway, where the pilot a Group Captain (name withheld) died instantly.

Immediately the crash occurred, authorities of the airport, drafted fire fighters to the scene as they battle to put off the flame which engulfed the fighter jet. The plane crashed occurred around mid day when the Aviation Minister, Fidelia Akuabata Njeze was about rounding off her official visit to the airport. Subsequently, the airport runway was immediately closed to traffic, making passengers to be stranded for hours.

Interim Measure

However, as an interim measure, the Nigeria Air Force Base runway in Kano is being used as an alternative for flights to land and take off.

Last week, bush burning around the airport claimed the life of a fire fighter attached to the Airport fire service while others were severely burnt.

At the time of filling this report, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) personnel and other agencies in the airport were on the scene trying to clear the debris for flight resumption.

Twenty-First Century

The Chengdu Jian-7 (Chinese: 歼-7; export versions F-7) is a People's Republic of China-built version[1] of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces.

A Nigerian Chengdu F-7 taking off In 2005 it was reported that Nigeria has approved $251 million USD to purchase 15 Chengdu F-7 fighters from China. The deal includes 12 F-7NI (NI = Nigeria) single seat fighters, and 3 FT-7NI dual-seat trainers.[2] The $251 ($252?) million package includes $220 million for 15 aircraft, plus $32 million for armaments, including 20 live PL-9C AAM, 10 training PL-9 rounds, unguided rockets, and 250/500 kg bombs. Nigerian pilots began their training in China in 2008, with delivery of the aircraft to begin in 2009. [2]Nigeria had previously considered a $160 million deal to refurbish its fleet of MiG-21's by Aerostar/Elbit Systems, IAI, and RSK MiG. However, with the new F-7 purchase, the government of Nigeria has decided to suspend the refurbishment option and grounded its fleet of MiG 21's.In September 2009 it was reported that U.S. Air Forces Africa and 118th Airlift Wing personnel had managed to make one of the Air Force's C-130s flyable again, and that it would be dispatched to Germany for further repairs.[3]On March 22, 2011, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas told The Associated Press that the Chinese-made F7 fighter crashed near Kano's airport. Anas said the pilot died in the crash and no other details were provided.