A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft carrying 32 people has crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, prompting an immediate search-and-rescue operation by the military and other emergency agencies.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying the aircraft, identified by tail number NGR 931, disappeared from communication at about 9:13 a.m. while travelling from Benin to Lagos.
According to Keyamo, air traffic controllers raised the alarm after repeated attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft failed. Information subsequently received confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, where the wreckage was located.
32 people were on board
Keyamo said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft, bringing the total number of people on board to 32.
However, neither the Aviation Ministry nor the Nigerian Air Force had, at the time of the latest official statements, released a confirmed casualty figure or disclosed the condition of those on board. Reuters, AP and Al Jazeera likewise reported that the status of the occupants remained unclear as rescue operations continued.
NAF confirms aircraft was an ATR-42
The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that the aircraft involved was an ATR-42 and said it was conducting a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said the service had activated an immediate search-and-rescue operation in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
The NAF did not initially provide details on casualties, saying further information would be released as the operation progressed.
Crash site in swampy area
Reports from the scene indicate that the aircraft came down in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, a coastal community in Ondo State. Local authorities and security agencies moved to secure the area as rescue personnel searched the crash site.
The Ondo State Police Command also confirmed the crash and appealed to residents of Igbokoda and surrounding communities to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information while authorities establish the full circumstances of the incident.
Aviation Ministry offers support
Keyamo noted that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He nevertheless said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s full cooperation and assistance to the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
Ondo government mobilises emergency agencies
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has also directed state emergency, health and security agencies to support the rescue operation.
The governor ordered the mobilisation of personnel and logistics from the State Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies. He also directed that the crash site be secured to facilitate rescue efforts and urged residents to cooperate with emergency responders.
Investigation and casualty figures
The immediate cause of the crash has not been established. Authorities are concentrating on search and rescue before determining the circumstances that led to the aircraft’s loss of contact and subsequent crash.
As of the latest available reports, there is no officially confirmed death toll.
What is confirmed so far
• Date: Monday, October 5, 2026.
• Aircraft: Nigerian Air Force ATR-42.
• Tail number: NGR 931.
• Route: Benin to Lagos.
• Last reported contact: About 9:13 a.m.
• Location: Igbokoda, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State, near the Naval Base.
• People aboard: 32 — 25 passengers and seven crew members.
• Wreckage: Located.
• Rescue operation: Ongoing.
• Confirmed casualties: Not yet officially released.
• Cause of crash: Not yet established.