Tragedy struck Igbokoda, a coastal town in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, after a military aircraft crashed, killing all 32 people on board.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the aircraft, an ATR-42 operated by the Nigerian Air Force, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda while on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the service, adding that search and rescue operations have been activated.
The ATR-42 was on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026.
Here are 13 things we know about the crash:
- The aircraft is a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931.
- It crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State — a swampy, coastal area.
- Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m.
- It was on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State to Lagos.
- Ownership has been confirmed by the Nigerian Air Force.
- Thirty-two persons were on board — 25 passengers and 7 crew members.
- Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said air traffic controllers informed him that all efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.
- The wreckage has been located near the naval base.
- As of the time of filing this report, search and rescue operations are ongoing in coordination with relevant emergency agencies.
- The ATR-42 is used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and air maritime operations.
- Minister Keyamo said control and regulation of military aircraft are outside the purview of the Ministry of Aviation, but he has spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged total cooperation.
- The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says it cannot directly investigate military crashes unless invited by the NAF, but its Flight Safety Laboratory is ready to assist with flight data analysis.
- The incident is one of Nigeria’s worst military aviation accidents in recent years.
