A military aircraft carrying 32 people has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, after losing contact with air traffic controllers while travelling from Benin to Lagos.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, saying search and rescue operations were underway at the crash site.
The aircraft, identified by its tail number as NGR 931, reportedly disappeared from radar at about 9:13 a.m. after communication with Air Traffic Controllers was lost. Attempts to restore contact with the aircraft were unsuccessful.
Keyamo said the wreckage was later located close to the naval facility in Igbokoda.
Preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft when it went down.
“The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” the minister said, adding that further information would be released as authorities establish more details about the incident.
Keyamo also disclosed that he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and assured that the aviation ministry would provide the necessary support to the ongoing rescue efforts.
The minister, however, noted that military aviation operations are outside the regulatory jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the country’s civil aviation authorities.
The crash occurred earlier on Monday, with authorities continuing efforts to determine what caused the incident and establish the condition of everyone on board.
Earlier, the Chairman of the local government, Maurice Oripelaye, also confirmed the crash to journalists. He said military equipment had been found at the site but could not confirm the number of personnel aboard the aircraft.
