A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft carrying 32 people crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo State while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft that crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo State on Monday has claimed the lives of all 32 people on board, according to official statements and reports following the recovery operation.
The ATR-42 aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine flight from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area.
The aircraft reportedly disappeared from radar during the flight before the wreckage was located in the coastal area. The NAF subsequently activated search and rescue operations in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The President also declared three days of national mourning for the Air Force personnel who died in the incident and directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country.
The cause of the crash has not been established. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight records, weather conditions, maintenance history and other circumstances surrounding the incident.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about safety and accountability in Nigeria’s military aviation sector, while attention now turns to the investigation and the identification and burial arrangements for the victims.
