25 Killed in Nigerian Air Force Plane Crash in Ondo State
No survivors were found on board an ATR-42 aircraft that crashed Monday near a naval base in southern Nigeria.
Officials confirmed Monday that 25 people aboard a Nigerian Air Force plane died when it crashed in Nigeria’s southern Ondo state. The ATR-42 aircraft was on a routine mission to Lagos when it disappeared from radar and was later discovered to have crashed near a naval base in the riverside town of Igbokoda.
The Nigerian Air Force stated that the flight carried 20 passengers and five crew members. Earlier reports from Nigeria's Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo indicated the aircraft was carrying 32 people, but officials did not immediately reconcile the discrepancy.
Chief of the Air Staff Sunday Kelvin Aneke described the incident as a "deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation." He assured the families of the victims that the agency would provide full support.
President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast. He also directed the Nigerian Air Force to launch a thorough investigation into the crash's cause to prevent future occurrences.
The ATR-42 is commonly used by the Nigerian military for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and transporting personnel and supplies. The exact cause of the accident and the extent of the aircraft's damage remained unclear Tuesday. Local residents reported hearing a sound like thunder before the crash. Videos circulating online appeared to show individuals gathered by a river where rescuers were attempting to reach the wreckage, which was partially submerged.