The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that one of its aircraft crashed early Monday morning in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
According to a statement released to TheCable by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the aircraft was conducting a routine operational mission when the crash occurred.
Ejodame noted that a search and rescue operation was immediately launched following the incident.
While initial reports by DAILY POST indicated that several occupants aboard the aircraft were feared dead, official military sources have yet to confirm the exact number of casualties.
Nigerian govt confirms 32 people onboard
The Federal Government has confirmed that 32 passengers were aboard the military aircraft that crashed on Monday in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo disclosed the details in a statement issued Monday, identifying the military aircraft by tail number NGR 931.
Keyamo explained that Air Traffic Controllers had earlier raised an alarm when the Lagos-bound aircraft, which departed from Benin, went missing.
He noted that after repeated efforts to establish radio communication with the flight crew failed, the aircraft disappeared from radar tracking at approximately 9:13 a.m.
He said, “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 Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.
“Subsequently, information confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.
“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.”
Tinubu orders probe into Air Force aircraft crash
President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval installation in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, ordering the NAF to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the incident.
The President’s position was communicated on Monday in a statement titled “President Tinubu mourns NAF personnel in Ondo jet accident, demands thorough probe of the mishap,” issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu extended his condolences to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, NAF personnel, and the families of those affected by the tragic accident.
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