Search and rescue teams have been deployed to Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) military aircraft carrying 32 individuals earlier today, Monday, October 5, 2026.
The aircraft, an ATR-42 500 Maritime Patrol Aircraft with tail number NGR 931, lost contact with Air Traffic Control at approximately 9:13 a.m. while en route from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission. Initial efforts by air traffic controllers to establish radio communication were unsuccessful before subsequent reports confirmed the plane had gone down near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
According to preliminary reports released by the Ministry of Aviation, 25 passengers and 7 crew members were on board the flight. Search parties have located the wreckage, and joint operations involving civil aviation agencies, the Nigerian Air Force, and emergency response teams are currently underway at the site.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the ATR-42 500 Maritime Patrol Aircraft was on a routine flight when the incident occurred, assuring that Search and Rescue operations with relevant agencies are actively ongoing.
The Ministry of Aviation confirmed that although military aircraft fall outside the regulatory jurisdiction of civil aviation authorities, full cooperation and assistance have been pledged to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke. Official updates regarding the condition of those on board and the circumstances surrounding the crash are expected as search and rescue efforts progress.
The Stewardship News had earlier reported that the aircraft crashed into the water in the Igbokoda axis of Ondo State, with initial search and rescue operations being carried out by local residents before official emergency teams arrived at the scene.
