Nigeria Military Aircraft With 32 On Board Crashes, Search And Rescue Underway

All 32 people aboard a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 military aircraft were killed when the plane crashed in Ondo State on Monday, with President Bola Tinubu ordering a thorough investigation and declaring three days of national mourning.

The aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine mission to Lagos when it crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo State. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said the aircraft disappeared from radar at around 9 a.m. local time before it was located near a naval base.

The Nigerian Air Force identified the aircraft as an ATR-42. Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said search and rescue operations were launched in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.

Local residents said the aircraft crashed in a swampy area near a river, with parts of the plane reportedly sinking into the water. Witness Akinbulejo Pius said, “We heard something like a thunder strike,” adding that residents found body parts, clothes and shoes near the crash site.

Authorities later confirmed that there were no survivors.

President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of those killed and directed the Nigerian Air Force to investigate the crash. The president said the investigation should be “thorough” and aimed at determining the cause of the incident and preventing a recurrence.

Tinubu also praised first responders and the Ondo State government for their efforts following the crash. He later declared three days of national mourning, with flags ordered to be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the victims.