ABUJA (Reuters) - A Nigerian military pilot died on Friday after being involved in an accident while rehearsing for an air display, an air force spokesman said.

He earlier said two military planes had been involved in an accident. Witnesses reported seeing the wings of the planes collide in the air over the capital, Abuja, with at least one of the aircraft crashing into a hill in the Mpape district of the city.

“It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce that one of the pilots who successfully ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft that crashed earlier today has passed on,” said airforce spokesman Ibikunle Daramola.

Nigeria is due to celebrate the anniversary of independence from British colonial rule on Oct. 1.