All 32 People Killed as Nigerian Military Aircraft Crashes in Ondo

All 32 people aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft were killed when an ATR-42 military plane crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday, during a routine flight from Benin to Lagos, Nigerian authorities confirmed.

The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members. It disappeared from radar at around 9:13 a.m. local time after air traffic controllers lost contact with the crew. Repeated attempts to establish radio communication with the aircraft were unsuccessful.

The aircraft was subsequently located after crashing near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, a coastal community in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The Nigerian Air Force immediately activated search and rescue operations in coordination with emergency response agencies.

The aircraft crashed in a swampy area near the naval base, with local witnesses reporting debris and parts of the aircraft in or near a river. Emergency teams were deployed to the site as authorities worked to recover the victims and secure the crash area.

The Nigerian Air Force identified the aircraft as an ATR-42, a twin-engine turboprop used by the service for missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as personnel and logistical transport. The military said the aircraft had been conducting a routine mission when the accident occurred.

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said his ministry and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority did not have regulatory control over military aircraft but pledged full cooperation with the Nigerian Air Force and other authorities involved in the response.

The cause of the crash had not been established, and authorities said a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine what led to the aircraft's loss of contact and subsequent crash.