The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft carrying 32 people crashed in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday.
The aircraft had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board when it crashed in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
The NAF said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.Editorial opinion pieces
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying search-and-rescue operations had been activated.
“The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred,” Ejodame said.
“Search and rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing.”
He said the NAF was committed to ensuring the success of the rescue operation and would provide further updates as more information became available.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also confirmed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft.
According to Keyamo, the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, disappeared from radar after air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. while it was travelling from Benin to Lagos.
He said subsequent information confirmed that the aircraft had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda and that its wreckage had been located.
However, authorities had yet to confirm the fate of the 32 people on board as of the time of filing this report, as search-and-rescue operations were still ongoing.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, confirmed the crash, saying military equipment had been found at the scene.
Oripelaye said the aircraft was badly burnt after crashing in the swampy area, making it difficult for local authorities to immediately determine the number of casualties.
The crash has triggered anxiety among residents of Igbokoda, while security personnel and emergency responders have mobilised to the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remained unclear as of press time.
The NAF said further information would be released as the search-and-rescue operation progresses.
