Abuja, Sept 28 (AP) A Nigerian air force pilot has died after two aircraft crashed while rehearsing for the West African nation's 58th Independence Day celebrations, the government said Friday.

A spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the pilot had "successfully" ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft during the rehearsals in the capital, Abuja.

The pilot later died due to complications from injuries sustained on impact, the air force said in a statement.

He was among three pilots forced to eject from their aircraft, which crashed in the general area of Katamkpe Hill. There were no civilian casualties, the statement said.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Nigeria's Independence Day is on Monday. AP

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)