Heartbreaking! Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Ms. Arotile dies in auto crash – NAF

…Late Arotile was committed to fighting armed bandits in Middle Belt

The death of a Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile of the Nigeria Air Force who died on Tuesday (NAF) has been announced.

In a statement issued out on Wednesday, NAF disclosed that Arotile died from the head injuries sustained from a motor accident in Kaduna.

The deceased was winged by NAF as the first female fighter (combatant) pilot in 2019.

She completed her pilot training courses at the Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa.

The statement also revealed that Ms Arotile was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA) RC 64.

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“Until her death, Fg Offr Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in Sept 2017 as a member of @HQ_NDA RC 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.

“During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.

“Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Sadique Abubakar on behalf of officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late Flying Officer Arotile over the irreparable loss.

“We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest,” it concluded.