Nigeria’s gritty 11-man Air Force C-130 crew turned Thursday’s release in Burkina Faso into instant takeoff, pressing their Portugal maintenance mission after a Dec 8 tech glitch forced a precautionary Bobo-Dioulasso landing—showcasing NAF resilience amid West African junta jitters.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar’s star-studded squad—packing NIA DG Mohammed Mohammed, AVM Abdullahi (Air Force plans chief), ECOWAS rep Olawale Awe and protocol ace Wahab Akande—landed Tinubu-mandated diplomacy that flipped detention to departure, underscoring Naija’s clout in smoothing regional rough spots without escalation.
This hitch-to-win saga highlights emergency landing protocols’ lifesaver role, bolsters fleet readiness for ops like recent drone busts, and spotlights aviation diplomacy’s quiet power—keeping skies open and alliances tight in a volatile neighborhood.
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