7 Things To Know About Ondo Military Aircraft Crash

An aircraft operated by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) crashed in Ondo State on Monday while travelling from Benin to Lagos, with 32 people reportedly on board.

The ATR-42 aircraft, identified by tail number NGR 931, went off communication with air traffic controllers before its location was established near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

As search and rescue efforts continue, here are seven key things LEADERSHIP knows about the incident:

1. The aircraft was travelling from Benin to Lagos

The NAF said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the incident occurred.

The military has not disclosed further details about the nature of the assignment.

2. 32 people were reportedly on board

Preliminary information from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development indicated that the aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.

This brings the reported number of people aboard the aircraft to 32.

3. Contact with the aircraft was lost

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said air traffic controllers alerted him at about 9:13 am after losing contact with the aircraft.

Attempts to reach the crew via radio were unsuccessful before authorities received confirmation that the aircraft had crashed.

4. The crash site has been identified

The wreckage was located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The NAF subsequently confirmed that the location had been identified and that response efforts were being coordinated on-site.

5. Search and rescue efforts are underway

The NAF said it immediately activated search-and-rescue operations following the crash.

The operation is being conducted in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

Keyamo also said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, over the incident and assured that his ministry would provide necessary support.

6. The aircraft is a military plane, not a civilian aircraft

Although the incident has been widely described as an aviation accident, the aircraft involved belongs to the Nigerian Air Force.

Keyamo explained that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) do not regulate military aircraft operations.

He nevertheless said the ministry would assist the ongoing response to the incident.

7. Authorities have yet to give a full account of the incident

The NAF and the Ministry of Aviation have not released a detailed account of the cause of the aircraft crash.

They have also not provided a definitive casualty figure as rescue operations continue.

The military said further information would be made available as the response operation progresses.