An Air Force aircraft carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members crashed near the naval base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, today.
The minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo confirmed in a statement on X, Mr. Keyamo said air traffic controllers informed him that the aircraft, tail number NGR 931, disappeared while flying from Benin to Lagos.
Contact was lost at about 9:13 a.m.
“All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” he said.
He added that it was later confirmed the plane had crashed, that the wreckage had been located, and that search and rescue operations were ongoing.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the aircraft belongs to it and said it was on a routine flight from Benin City, the Edo State capital, to Lagos.
The plane, an ATR 42, is used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as maritime operations.
Rescue teams and security personnel have been deployed to the site.
The Air Force urged residents to remain calm and wait for official updates.
Mr. Keyamo said the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
He said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged “total cooperation and assistance” in the rescue effort.
The minister described the figures on board as preliminary and said more information would be provided when available.
Authorities have not said how many people survived, who was on board, or what caused the crash.
Administrator and Writer
