Nigerian military plane crashes on approach to Abuja airport

People watch as rescuers inspect the debris from a Nigerian air force plane, which crashed while approaching the Abuja airport runway according to the aviation minister, in Abuja, Nigeria. Credit: Reuters photo.

A Nigerian air force plane crashed while approaching the Abuja airport runway due to engine failure on Sunday, Nigeria's aviation minister said.

Hadi Sirika said on his Twitter account that "a military aircraft King Air 350 has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure en route Minna."

He gave no details on casualties but wrote: "It appears to be fatal."

Minna is a city about 110 kilometres (68.35 miles) northwest of Abuja.

A Nigerian Air Force spokesman said he was driving to the airport because of the crash, but gave no additional information.

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