Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo survived a helicopter crash on February 2, 2019, in Kabba, Kogi State, while participating in a presidential campaign ahead of the 2019 general elections.
At the time of the incident, Osinbajo and members of his entourage were en route to Kabba as part of efforts to mobilise support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and himself on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The aircraft involved, an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter with registration number 5N-CML, was operated by Caverton Helicopters. It departed Runway 22 of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 1:46 p.m.
Available reports indicated that weather conditions were favourable at the time of departure, and the flight progressed smoothly, cruising at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet above sea level.
However, at about 2:20 p.m., the helicopter’s multi-purpose flight recorder (MPFR)—which serves as both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—stopped functioning. Roughly fourteen minutes later, at 2:34 p.m., the aircraft made a crash landing, impacting the ground on its right landing gear and tipping to one side.
All 12 occupants, including the Vice-President, escaped without injuries.
As the incident marked its seventh anniversary, Osinbajo’s former media aide, Laolu Akande, shared new insights in a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), revealing that the former Vice-President resumed campaign activities less than an hour after the crash.
According to Akande, Osinbajo rejected suggestions that the team should suspend activities and rest following the incident, choosing instead to continue with the campaign.
He described the moment as one marked by courage and resolve, attributing their survival to divine intervention and offering gratitude to God.
Akande also included a short praise refrain in his post, expressing thanksgiving for their safety.
The Kabba incident was not Osinbajo’s first helicopter-related scare within a short period.
Earlier, on June 7, 2018, a helicopter that had transported him to the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, Abuja, developed a technical fault shortly after takeoff and was forced to land.
At the time, Akande explained that the former Vice-President returned to the Presidential Villa by road due to the technical issue. Osinbajo had attended the graduation ceremony of participants of the Senior Division Course 1/2018 and was initially scheduled to return aboard the same aircraft.
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