Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has commiserated with the families of the victims of the recent air crash in the state, describing the tragedy as a "very gory sight". The governor visited the site of the crash, where he revealed that eyewitness accounts suggested the pilot had manoeuvred the aircraft away from the populated Igbokoda community before it plunged into a swamp. According to Aiyedatiwa, the aircraft crashed about 200 metres from the community after residents reported a sound indicating engine problems.
Aiyedatiwa stated that the pilot's actions might have prevented a larger catastrophe in the coastal community, adding that only the pilot could have explained the circumstances surrounding the final manoeuvre. The governor was accompanied by personnel of the Nigerian Navy and Air Force, divers, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency, and local residents involved in the search. He said portions of bodies, clothing, jackets belonging to Air Force personnel, and fragments of the aircraft had been recovered and preserved for investigation.
The governor disclosed that the main wreckage had yet to be located, and it was believed to be submerged in the swamp. Aiyedatiwa explained that the depth and nature of the terrain could have caused the aircraft to sink deep into the mud. He directed the state Ministry of Works to deploy two amphibious machines, popularly known as swamp buggies, to create wider access through the waterways and enable larger boats to move closer to the location.
The machines were used to excavate the soil in the area in the hope of locating the main wreckage or other parts of the aircraft, while Navy personnel and local divers continued searching the deeper sections for possible bodies and the cockpit. Aiyedatiwa noted that, based on construction experience and analysis of the area, it would take about 30 metres deep to reach the refusal level. The governor also expressed concerns about pollution, as aviation fuel continued to flow into the water around the crash site.
Aiyedatiwa commiserated with President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the deceased, describing the victims as young Nigerians who had committed themselves to defending the country's territorial integrity. The governor urged Nigerians to pray for the bereaved families and the armed forces. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and other stakeholders, including the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of the Air Staff, met to discuss ways to end the civil-military aviation safety dichotomy.
The meeting aimed to enhance aviation safety in the country, following the recent air crash. The NAF, in a statement, said search and recovery efforts were ongoing, with the Department of State Services, the Defence Intelligence Agency, and other security agencies involved. The statement also confirmed that the victims included Michael Olugbode, Linus Aleke, Chinedu Eze, and Fidelis David.
As the search and recovery operation continues, the Nigerian government has assured the public that it will take all necessary measures to ensure that the cause of the crash is determined and that measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident has raised concerns about aviation safety in Nigeria, and the government has promised to take concrete steps to address the issues.
Key points
- The pilot's actions likely prevented a larger catastrophe in the coastal community.
- The main wreckage of the aircraft is believed to be submerged in the swamp.
- Aviation fuel continues to flow into the water around the crash site, raising concerns about pollution.
