mORGANABLE News/security& justice
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that air traffic controllers had informed him about the disappearance of the military aircraft
KaNo—
A Nigerian Air Force aircraft travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos disappeared from radar shortly after take-off on Monday before crashing into a swampy area in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, identified by its tail number as NGR 931, was reportedly carrying 32 people, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members.
A senior Air Traffic Controller familiar with the aircraft’s final journey said communication was established with the aircraft shortly after take-off but was subsequently lost at about 9:13am.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the incident, said attempts by air traffic controllers to re-establish contact with the aircraft proved unsuccessful.
“I must tell you that this is looking somehow shoddy. When the aircraft took off, we were in touch with it shortly afterward, but it disappeared from the radar. Efforts to reach it were unsuccessful,” the source said.
According to the source, personnel at reporting points around Okitipupa later reported hearing a loud bang believed to have been associated with the crash.
He said the military immediately commenced search-and-rescue operations after the aircraft disappeared from radar.
“But it was strange. Almost immediately after it took off, we lost communication with it. There was no communication, nothing. And that makes it suspicious. The aircraft just vanished until the crash,” the source added.
He stressed, however, that the circumstances surrounding the incident could only be established conclusively after the search, recovery and investigation processes had been completed.
“Even as we speak, the search-and-rescue operation is still ongoing, and when that is concluded, I should be able to get more information,” he said.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that air traffic controllers had informed him about the disappearance of the military aircraft.
Keyamo said the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was travelling to Lagos from Benin when all attempts to raise it on radio failed.
“I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” he said.
The minister later confirmed that the wreckage had been located close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
“Subsequently, information, however, confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located, and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Keyamo stated.
The Nigerian Air Force also confirmed the crash, describing the flight as a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
In a statement issued by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF said it had immediately activated a search-and-rescue operation.
“The NAF has activated an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026.
“The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing,” the statement said.
The Air Force said further details would be released as the rescue operation progressed.
The aircraft reportedly crashed into a swampy area within the creek, making access to the wreckage difficult and slowing the recovery efforts.
Military personnel from a nearby base were said to be leading the operation, while local fishermen also assisted responders in navigating the waterways and reaching the crash site.
As of the time of filing this report, the identities and conditions of those on board had not been officially released by the Nigerian Air Force.
Efforts were also being made to recover the aircraft’s flight recorder, commonly known as the black box, which could provide investigators with information about the aircraft’s final moments and help determine what caused the crash.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that an investigation into the incident had commenced.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the police were working with other authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“The Ondo State Police Command confirms the reported aircraft crash in the Igbokoda axis of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday, 5th October 2026. Details surrounding the incident are still emerging, as efforts to establish the full circumstances continue,” Jimoh said.
He urged residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information.
“The public will be duly informed as soon as further credible information becomes available,” he added.
The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, described the incident as unfortunate, saying he directed palace officials to visit the crash site after receiving reports of the accident.
The monarch said he was initially uncertain whether the aircraft involved was a plane or helicopter.
“I was in court when the incident happened, and I directed some of my palace officials to visit the site. At that time, nobody could determine whether it was an aircraft or a helicopter,” he said.
Odidiomo said he was relieved that the crash did not occur inside the town, noting that the consequences could have been more severe if the aircraft had come down in a populated area.
“Our first thanks to Almighty God is that it did not happen inside the town; otherwise, the casualties would have been too many,” he said.
He explained that the aircraft crashed into a river and swampy area while it was raining, leaving much of the wreckage submerged.
“The aircraft crashed into the river and a swampy area. It was raining when the incident happened, and the place was waterlogged. The aircraft did not catch fire, but a substantial part of it has gone into the water,” the monarch said.
He said information gathered at the scene indicated that there were no survivors, although the recovery operation was still being conducted.
The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, also expressed sadness over the incident and said the state government had activated relevant agencies to support the search-and-rescue operation.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor said he had been in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, and security agencies at the scene.
“The governor has received with deep sadness the news of the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, in the early hours of today, Monday, October 5, 2026,” the statement said.
Aiyedatiwa expressed sympathy to the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the passengers and military personnel on board.
The governor also said no survivor had been found following the crash.
However, with rescue and recovery operations still underway at the time of filing, authorities had yet to issue a comprehensive official account of the casualties.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s flight data, communication records, weather conditions, maintenance history and other relevant evidence as they seek to establish what caused the aircraft to disappear from radar shortly after take-off and crash in the Igbokoda waterways.
