An aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force has crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, with 32 people, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members, on board.
The aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, was reportedly travelling from Benin to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13am on Monday.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who confirmed the incident, said subsequent information indicated that the aircraft had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
According to the minister, the wreckage of the aircraft had been located, while search-and-rescue operations were ongoing.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” Keyamo said.
He, however, did not disclose the identities or condition of those on board, saying rescue efforts were still in progress.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed the crash, saying it immediately activated a search-and-rescue operation after the aircraft went down.
In a statement issued by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF said the aircraft was on a routine mission when the incident occurred.
“The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred,” Ejodame said.
He added that the military had commenced coordinated rescue efforts with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
“Search and rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing,” he said.
Ejodame assured that the Air Force remained committed to locating and assisting those involved in the incident, adding that further information would be released as it became available.
The crash was first reported by residents in Igbokoda, with a community leader confirming that a helicopter had gone down in the area but saying the exact crash site and other details were initially unknown.
Keyamo subsequently said the aircraft had disappeared from radar after air traffic controllers were unable to re-establish radio communication with it.
The minister also clarified that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
He said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and assured the military of the ministry’s cooperation in the ongoing rescue operation.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently,” Keyamo said.
