Military aircraft crashes in Ondo with 32 persons on board
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have confirmed the crash of a military aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, with 32 people on board.
Keyamo confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, saying the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, disappeared while en route from Benin to Lagos at about 9:13 a.m.
Keyamo said air traffic controllers alerted authorities after repeated attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft failed.
According to him, subsequent information confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with the wreckage already located.
He said search and rescue operations were ongoing.
The statement reads:
“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.
Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft has 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 7 crew members on board.
“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation, and 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.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had activated an immediate search-and-rescue operation.
NAF in a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the aircraft involved was an ATR-42 on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
The statement said, “Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing,” adding that it remained committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing rescue efforts.
The crash was said to have occurred in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base.
