The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that the aircraft which crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday belonged to the service
This is as search and rescue operations continues.
The Air Force said the ATR-42 aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred on October 5, 2026.
The confirmation came after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that a military aircraft had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda after air traffic controllers lost contact with it.
In a statement on Monday, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Ehimen Ejodame, said an immediate search and rescue operation had been activated in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026,” the statement read.
The Air Force did not disclose the number of casualties or provide details about the condition of those on board in its statement.
However, Keyamo had earlier said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board, bringing the total number of people aboard the aircraft to 32.
In a statement issued by the ministry on Monday, the minister said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, at about 9:13 am.
“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, en route enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” Keyamo said.
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32 ke omoh see tears