Nigerian Air Force’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, has died in a road accident on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Air Force announced her death in a press statement on Wednesday.
The news of her death is coming in less than a year after she was decorated as the first female combatant helicopter pilot.
The statement reads, “It is with great sorrow that the @NigAirForce regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died on 14 July 2020,as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.
“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.
“On behalf officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF commiserates with the family of late Flying Officer Arotile over this irreparable loss.”
Arotile is a native of Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
She graduated at the Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa.