Nigeria recorded several notable aviation accidents and serious incidents over the years, and 2026 is no different.
These accidents and incidents range from runway excursions to emergency diversions and an aircraft landing on a road.
As gathered by LEADERSHIP, here are five major occurrences that have attracted attention and investigations by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB):
1. NAF Aircraft Crashes In Ondo
A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed near Igbokoda, Ondo State, on 5 October while travelling from Benin to Lagos. The aircraft had 32 people on board.
The crash triggered a search-and-rescue operation, with the wreckage located near a naval base in Igbokoda. Authorities subsequently confirmed that all 32 people on board died.
2. Enugu Aeroplane Overshoots Benin Runway
An Enugu Air Embraer ERJ 170 overran the runway at Oba Akenzua II Airport in Benin on July 23. The aircraft was carrying 68 people, including 63 passengers and five crew members.
It struck airport infrastructure beyond the runway before coming to a stop. All 68 occupants were evacuated without injury, while the NSIB launched an investigation.
3. VMO Aero Jet Lands On Road In Delta
A VMO Aero Bombardier Challenger 601 mistakenly landed on a paved road under construction near Asaba Airport on June 10. Seven people were on board.
No injuries were recorded, although the aircraft sustained damage to its left nose-wheel assembly. The NSIB recovered the flight recorders as part of its investigation.
4. Arik Air Jet Diverts After Engine Anomaly
An Arik Air Boeing 737 operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt developed an engine anomaly on February 11. The crew shut down the affected engine and diverted the aircraft to Benin Airport.
The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally. The NSIB later opened an investigation into the serious incident.