A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft carrying 32 people crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo State on Monday, October 5, during a routine flight from Benin to Lagos, according to military and aviation officials. The wreckage was located near a Naval Base in Igbokoda, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Crash Details and Casualty Figures
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed that the aircraft, identified by tail number NGR 931, had 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board, bringing the total to 32. The minister said air traffic controllers first alerted him to the disappearance of the aircraft at 09:13 hours. All attempts to reach the crew by radio failed before information came through confirming the crash.
The Nigerian Air Force, through a statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, director of public relations and information, also confirmed the location of the crash site and said rescue operations were already underway. The NAF said it activated an immediate search and rescue operation after the crash.
Official Statements and Rescue Efforts
Air Commodore Ejodame said the aircraft was carrying out a routine mission between Benin and Lagos when the accident occurred. No further details about the nature of the mission were provided as of filing this report. Ejodame added that the rescue effort is being coordinated with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
Keyamo also said he spoke directly with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged full cooperation from his ministry. He clarified that neither his ministry nor the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has control over military aircraft operations, but his office would offer all possible assistance to the ongoing rescue efforts.
Police Investigation and Community Response
The Ondo State Police Command has also opened an investigation into the crash in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area. The command's spokesman, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident in an official statement, saying the full circumstances surrounding the crash were yet to be determined.
"The Ondo State Police Command confirms the reported aircraft crash in the Igbokoda axis of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday, 5th October 2026. Details surrounding the incident are still emerging, as efforts to establish the full circumstances continue," Jimoh said.
Both the NAF and the minister said further information would be released as the situation develops. The crash site near the Naval Base remains an active search and rescue zone, with emergency teams working to determine the fate of all 32 individuals on board.
