By Princely Onyenwe l News Desk
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, as the nation mourns the military personnel and passengers involved in the tragic incident.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.
The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that the aircraft had crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, close to a naval base. The wreckage was located as search-and-rescue operations were activated in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 32 people — 25 passengers and seven crew members — were aboard the aircraft.
Keyamo said attempts by air traffic controllers to re-establish radio contact after the aircraft disappeared from radar proved unsuccessful before information later confirmed the crash.
President Tinubu, after being briefed by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed profound sadness over the crash and directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately investigate its cause.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” the President said, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu extended condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members, as well as the Nigerian Air Force hierarchy and personnel. He also prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the crash.
The President commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search-and-rescue operation and praised first responders and the Ondo State Government for their response at the crash site.
The crash occurred in a difficult coastal environment around Igbokoda, with reports indicating that parts of the aircraft and debris were found around a riverine area. Emergency and security personnel were deployed as recovery efforts continued.
The Nigerian Air Force identified the aircraft as an ATR-42 and said it was committed to the ongoing search-and-rescue operation, adding that further details would be communicated as they become available.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force had not officially released an actual casualty figure or a confirmed list of those who died in the crash. While the Presidency’s statement strongly indicated loss of life, the Air Force’s operational update was still focused on the search-and-rescue and recovery operation.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has indicated that it is prepared to provide technical assistance if invited, while the military retains responsibility for investigating the crash involving its aircraft.
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. The investigation ordered by the President is expected to establish what happened between the aircraft’s departure from Benin, the loss of communication at about 9:13 a.m. and its eventual crash near Igbokoda.
Authorities are expected to release further details on the recovery operation, identities of those involved, casualty figures and the circumstances surrounding the crash as the investigation progresses.
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