A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft has crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with 32 people reportedly on board.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.
The wreckage was subsequently located near a Naval Base in Igbokoda, where search-and-rescue operations were activated.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed the crash and said it had launched an immediate search-and-rescue operation in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency-response agencies.
The crash site is located in a swampy area, making access and recovery operations difficult. Reports from the scene indicated that aircraft debris and personal effects were found as emergency teams worked to reach the main wreckage.
As of the latest official statements, authorities had not released a verified casualty figure. While some reports claimed that all 32 people aboard may have died, the Nigerian Air Force initially confirmed only the crash and ongoing rescue efforts.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the incident and extended condolences to the families of those on board, the Nigerian Air Force and the wider Armed Forces.
The President also directed the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” Tinubu said.
The cause of the crash has not been established. Authorities have not attributed the incident to mechanical failure, adverse weather, pilot error or any other specific factor.
The identities of those on board have also not been officially released.
The incident has prompted a major emergency response in Igbokoda, with the Nigerian Air Force, Ondo State Government and other relevant agencies involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.
Further details, including the confirmed casualty figure and identities of those involved, are expected as the investigation and recovery operations continue.