‎NAF Aircraft Crash: Aiyedatiwa Visits Site 3 Days After Accident

‎The Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday visited the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash at Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, three days after the accident, as rescue teams continued efforts to recover the submerged wreckage.

‎Aiyedatiwa, who inspected the crash site alongside naval and Air Force personnel, divers and emergency management officials, described the incident as a “national tragedy,” saying no survivor had been found since the aircraft crashed on Monday.

‎He said about 25 persons were on board the aircraft, adding that the main body of the plane had not been sighted because it was believed to have sunk deep into the swamp.

‎“It’s a sad story. I visited the site with Captain Alan, the Commanding Officer of the Igbokoda Naval Base, and Commander Usman from the Directorate of Rescue Operations of NEMA. We saw a gory sight at the location,” the governor said.

‎According to him, some human body parts had been recovered and preserved for further investigation, while clothes, jackets belonging to Air Force personnel and parts of the aircraft were also found at the scene.

‎Aiyedatiwa said the difficult terrain initially restricted access to the crash site, prompting him to direct the Ministry of Works to deploy two swamp machines, known as swamp buggies, to create wider access through the waterways.

‎The governor said the swamp buggies were being used to excavate the soil in an effort to locate the aircraft wreckage, adding that Navy divers and local divers were also continuing the search.

‎“The Swamp Buggies are working there, excavating the soil in an effort to locate the wreckage of the aircraft or, perhaps, the main parts of the plane. However, these have not yet been found,” Aiyedatiwa said.

‎He said residents had reported that the aircraft appeared to be descending with what sounded like an engine problem before the pilot manoeuvred it away from the community.

‎“From accounts given by residents, they saw the aircraft descending with what sounded like an engine problem. It was coming down and almost appeared set to crash within the community,” he said.

‎Aiyedatiwa said the pilot was, however, able to manoeuvre the aircraft and bring it down about 200 metres away from the community before it entered the swampy area.

‎He commiserated with President Bola Tinubu, the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Air Force, saying the victims were gallant Nigerians who died while serving the country.

‎The governor also expressed gratitude that the aircraft did not crash within the community, saying, “Thank God it didn’t fall in town. That would have been a major catastrophe for the entire area.”