A military simulation exercise in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, briefly descended into chaos after two Nigerian Army helicopters made a dramatic landing mid-show.
In a video that has gone viral, the incident reportedly occurred during a rescue demonstration by the Nigerian Army Aviation Corps at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026.
The footage, widely shared on social media, shows the helicopters flying at low altitude before descending sharply into a designated landing zone.
As the aircraft neared the ground, it made a hard landing, a typical one as would be in a real battlefield.
Nigeria army demonstrates their combat skills using a helicopter ? in port harcourt pic.twitter.com/yBNjyQe13s
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) July 6, 2026
The exercise was part of a military simulation designed to test the operational readiness and coordination of Nigerian security forces.
Such drills typically involve tactical aerial manoeuvres, rapid troop deployment and emergency response scenarios to prepare personnel for real-life operations.
The clip quickly gained traction online, attracting thousands of views and sparking mixed reactions.
While some users questioned whether the helicopters had experienced technical problems, others argued the manoeuvre appeared to be part of the planned demonstration.
Several commentators also criticised the apparent proximity of spectators to the landing area, calling for tighter crowd-control measures during future military displays.
One X user, Arnold All In, wrote: "How come they're not using their skills to rescue the kidnapped pupils and teachers?"
Another user commented: "They got it all wrong here. Two people were supposed to be walking backwards in order to watch their backs."
A third user, Kunnel Dtag, wrote: "All this can't stop banditry and kidnapping. Someone in politics started this nuisance; now it has escalated. None of those who started it can control it anymore."