Nigeria Military Plane Crash: 32 People, Including 7 Crew Members, Killed

Nigeria Plane Crash: ATR-42 aircraft crashes in Ondo state; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirms the tragedy

A major plane crash has occurred in Nigeria. A Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in the southwestern Ondo state, killing all 32 people believed to be on board. The victims included 25 passengers and seven crew members. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the crash and expressed his condolences to the families of those who died.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft was flying from Benin City to Lagos on a routine mission when the crash occurred. Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft during the flight. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo state.

Following the crash, wreckage of the aircraft was found near a coastal area. Rescue teams reached the site and began search and rescue operations. Rescue workers used boats to search the surrounding area.

How did the military aircraft crash?

Nigeria's Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said that air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft at around 8:13 GMT on Monday morning. The aircraft crashed sometime afterwards.

According to officials, the aircraft was on a routine flight and had not been deployed for any specific emergency. A video posted on social media showed crowds of people and rescue workers searching along the riverbank. Local residents also reported the crash.

Dayo Akintade, a 39-year-old resident living about one kilometre from the crash site, said she heard a loud sound. She initially thought it was thunder but later learned that it was an aircraft crash.

President Tinubu expresses grief

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the incident as a deep tragedy for the country and its armed forces. He directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately begin an investigation into the crash to determine its cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The crash is among the most serious aviation accidents reported in Nigeria in recent years. Earlier, in May 2021, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, a senior military officer, was among 11 people killed in an aircraft crash. In August 2015, seven people were also killed in a military aircraft crash.