The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed the safe arrival of its C-130 aircraft, NAF 913, at a maintenance facility in Lisbon, Portugal, following a brief detention in Burkina Faso.
The aircraft and its crew were initially held by Burkina Faso on December 8 over alleged airspace violations, which the West African country described as a breach of its sovereignty.
The detention lasted about ten days, during which a high-level Nigerian delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, engaged with Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré and senior officials to resolve the matter.
In a statement on Friday, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the aircraft completed a ferry flight to Portugal without incident.
“The Nigerian Air Force confirms that C-130 aircraft NAF 913 has arrived safely at the OGMA maintenance facility in Lisbon, Portugal,” Ejodame stated.
“The ferry flight transited Banjul and Casablanca according to an updated flight plan and aviation safety procedures. All personnel are safe and remain in high spirits.”
He added, “We appreciate the cooperation and support of host authorities during the transit, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of safety, professionalism, and operational accountability.”
The arrival of the aircraft marks the final phase of its scheduled depot maintenance, bringing an end to the tense situation surrounding its temporary detention.
