The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, led senior Nigerian Air Force officials to Igbokoda, Ondo State, to assess ongoing search, recovery and investigative efforts following the crash of an NAF ATR 42 aircraft. The aircraft, designated NAF 931, crashed on Monday, resulting in the death of 25 people, including five crew members and 20 passengers, comprising serving military personnel and civilians.
Aneke expressed profound condolences to the families of the personnel and passengers who lost their lives, paying tribute to their service, sacrifice and commitment to the nation. He reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to ensuring that the response and investigation are conducted with the highest standards of professionalism, coordination and diligence.
The Air Chief assured the affected families and the public that all relevant evidence recovered from the crash site would be secured, properly documented, preserved and examined as part of a thorough investigation. He cautioned against speculation over the cause of the accident, stressing the need for investigators to establish the facts based on evidence gathered from the scene.
Aneke commended the personnel involved in the recovery operation and acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency, Ondo State Government, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, Hi-Tech Construction Company, local authorities, community leaders and volunteers. He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his guidance and leadership during the challenging period.
The Head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, confirmed that recovery efforts were progressing in coordination with relevant aviation, security and emergency-response agencies. Ebiowe said the accident site remained secured, while recovered items and other relevant evidence were being carefully documented and preserved for further examination.
The NAF said it remained committed to providing appropriate support to the affected families while appreciating all stakeholders and members of the public for their continued support and cooperation. The crash has prompted a coordinated search, recovery and investigation operation at Igbokoda, with several military, security, emergency-response and local agencies participating in the effort.
Authorities are expected to rely on recovered evidence and other findings from the investigation before reaching conclusions on what led to the fatal accident. The NAF has maintained that the cause of the crash should not be speculated upon while recovery and investigative activities are still ongoing.
Key points
- The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, led the recovery operation at Igbokoda.
- The crash resulted in the death of 25 people, including five crew members and 20 passengers.
- The NAF has promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
