Military Aircraft Crashes Near Naval Base in Ondo, 32 People Reportedly On Board

A military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, which was en route from Benin to Lagos, has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has announced.

According to Keyamo, Air Traffic Controllers reported that the aircraft disappeared at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday, after efforts to establish radio contact with it proved unsuccessful.

He said the wreckage of the aircraft was subsequently located close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with search and rescue operations currently ongoing.

Preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members, making a total of 32 people, were on board the aircraft.

Keyamo clarified that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

He, however, 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 in the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

The minister said further information on the incident would be released as it becomes available.