NAF aircraft crashes in Ondo swamp after disappearing from radar
A Nigerian Air Force ATR 42 aircraft has crashed in a swampy area of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, after reportedly disappearing from radar shortly after taking off from Benin City for Lagos.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine mission when air traffic controllers reportedly lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday.
A senior Air Traffic Controller familiar with the flight said communication was established shortly after takeoff before contact was suddenly lost.
The source said personnel at nearby reporting points later heard a loud bang believed to have been the sound of the crash.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that air traffic controllers had alerted him about the aircraft’s disappearance and later announced that the wreckage had been located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
He said 32 people, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members, were on board.
The Nigerian Air Force said it immediately activated a search and rescue operation in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.
The difficult swampy terrain reportedly slowed access to the wreckage, with military personnel, emergency responders, police officers and local fishermen joining the recovery efforts.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State said no survivor had been found as of the time of his latest update.
The monarch of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, also described the incident as unfortunate, saying preliminary information available to him indicated that there were no survivors.
He said the aircraft crashed into a waterlogged swamp and did not catch fire, while urging caution until the full circumstances were established.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the incident and directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
The President extended his condolences to the families of those on board and the Nigerian Air Force, while commending the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command said it had commenced an investigation and urged residents to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information.
Attention is also turning to the aircraft’s flight recorder, commonly known as the black box, which could provide investigators with vital information about the aircraft’s final moments.
The cause of the crash remains unconfirmed, with weather conditions, the aircraft’s technical condition, maintenance history, flight path and communication records expected to form part of the investigation.
