By: Odeh Favour
An aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with 32 persons, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members, on board.
The incident occurred on Monday after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft while it was travelling from Benin to Lagos.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, disappeared from radar after air traffic controllers lost communication with it at about 9:13 a.m..
According to Keyamo, efforts to re-establish contact with the aircraft through radio were unsuccessful before subsequent information indicated that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
He said the wreckage of the aircraft had been located, while search and rescue operations were ongoing.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board,” Keyamo said.
The minister did not disclose the condition or identities of those on board, saying rescue efforts were still in progress.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed the crash in a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
According to the NAF, the aircraft was an ATR-42 and was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Ejodame said: “The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.”
He added: “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.”
The crash was initially reported by residents of Igbokoda, with a community leader confirming that an aircraft had gone down in the area but saying the exact location and other details were not immediately known.
He said: “Yes, it is true. A helicopter crashed at Igbokoda, Ondo State. But we don’t know the exact place and other details.”
Keyamo explained that the regulation and control of military aircraft did not fall under the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development or the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
He, however, said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and assured that his ministry would provide full cooperation and assistance to the ongoing search and rescue operation.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently,” he said.
