NAF C-130 aircraft touches down in Portugal for maintenance

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said its C-130 transport aircraft, NAF 913, landed safely in Lisbon, Portugal, for scheduled depot maintenance.

This was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force.

According to him, the aircraft departed Nigeria on a planned ferry flight that included stopovers in Banjul, The Gambia, and Casablanca, Morocco, before arriving safely at the OGMA aviation maintenance facility in Alverca, near Lisbon, on Thursday.

NAF said both the aircraft and its crew arrived in good condition, noting that the entire operation was carried out in strict compliance with established aviation safety procedures.

“The ferry flight was executed in line with all relevant safety and operational standards. All personnel involved remain safe, healthy and in high spirits,” it said.

The statement commended the authorities in the host countries for their cooperation throughout the journey, describing the smooth transit as a reflection of strong professional and diplomatic engagements.

The NAF reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, professionalism and operational accountability, stressing that routine and scheduled maintenance is critical to keeping its fleet mission-ready.

Read also: NAF C-130 aircraft lands in Banjul en route to Portugal for maintenance

It explained that the movement of the aircraft to Portugal forms part of the NAF’s broader fleet sustainment strategy, aimed at ensuring that key platforms remain reliable and capable of supporting ongoing air operations across the country.

“The scheduled depot maintenance is essential to sustaining operational effectiveness and extending the service life of the aircraft,” NAF said.

The Force also clarified that the successful arrival of NAF 913 in Portugal followed the conclusion of diplomatic engagements that facilitated its onward movement after an earlier emergency landing in Burkina Faso.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date