Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that the aircraft which crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday belonged to the service, as search and rescue operations continued.
NAF 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.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, 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 partly read.
According to Ejodame, the aircraft was travelling from Benin to Lagos when the incident occurred.
He added that efforts were underway to locate and assist those on board.
The statement further read, “The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing.
“The NAF is committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing Search and Rescue efforts. Further details will be communicated in due course.”
But the Air Force refrained from disclosing the number of casualties or provide details about the condition of those on board in its statement.
Aviation Minister, 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.
He later confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, adding that the wreckage had been located and search and rescue operations were ongoing.
“Subsequently, information, however, 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,” he said.
Keyamo noted that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority did not have regulatory authority over military aircraft.
He said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation and assistance with the rescue efforts.
