Nigeria's first female combat helicopter pilot dies at 23

By Bartholomew Madukwe

Nigerian Air Force, NAF, first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, has died at 23 years of age, in a road accident which occurred at the NAF Base in Kaduna.

The deceased who hailed from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, was winged as a combat helicopter pilot in the Air Force following the completion of her course at the Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa.

Confirming the accident, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said until her death, ‪Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the service.

According to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, her death is an “irreparable loss”.
NAF, in its press statement, said the flight officer died on Tuesday, after sustaining head injuries from the accident.