Military Aircraft With 32 People Crashes in Ondo, Search and Rescue Underway

A Nigerian military aircraft carrying 32 people has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with search and rescue operations underway.

The aircraft, identified by the Nigerian Air Force as an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine mission from Benin in Edo State to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board.

Keyamo said efforts to establish radio contact with the aircraft after it disappeared from radar were unsuccessful before information later confirmed that it had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

The wreckage has since been located, while rescue teams and relevant authorities continue efforts to establish the condition of those on board.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed the accident and said it immediately activated a search and rescue operation in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

As of the latest reports, authorities had not confirmed any fatalities or injuries, and the extent of damage to the aircraft remained unclear. The cause of the crash had also not been established.

Keyamo said the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority do not have regulatory control over military aircraft. He, however, said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation and assistance with the rescue operation.

Further details are expected from the Nigerian Air Force and other authorities as the search and rescue operation continues.