Military aircraft crashes near Ondo naval base, 32 on board as search continues

Abdullateef Fowewe

A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 military aircraft carrying 32 people crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday morning after losing contact with air traffic control while flying from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.

Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed the incident in a statement made available on Monday.

“I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” he had written.

Keyamo added that subsequent information confirmed the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

“The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” he stated.

Preliminary information indicated there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.

The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed the aircraft belonged to the service and was on a routine mission.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said an immediate search and rescue operation had been activated in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

“Further details would be communicated in due course,” said Keyamo.

Keyamo noted that control and regulation of military aircraft fall completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority.

He said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s total cooperation and assistance in the ongoing efforts.

Initial reports from residents and some local accounts described the incident as involving a helicopter that came down in a swampy area opposite the naval base, causing panic in the riverine community.

Authorities later clarified it was an ATR-42 fixed-wing aircraft.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed an aircraft had crashed in the area but urged the public to avoid circulating unverified information.

As of the latest official updates, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the Aviation Ministry has released confirmed figures on casualties or survivours.