A devastating military plane crash in southern Ondo State, Nigeria, has resulted in the deaths of 32 people, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare three days of national mourning. The incident occurred on Monday morning when the aircraft, on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, crashed into a swamp near a naval base. Authorities reported that the plane was submerged underwater, with clothes and shoes found at the site. Smoke was seen rising from the area, indicating the severity of the crash.
President Tinubu expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members on board, promising a full investigation into the cause of the crash. He also ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for those who died. Tinubu described the incident as a "painful moment" for Nigeria's Armed Forces and the entire nation, acknowledging the sacrifices made by Air Force personnel in securing the country.
The crashed plane, an ATR-42 aircraft, has a capacity of between 30 and 50 passengers, according to its manufacturers. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed that the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, had gone missing en route from Benin to Lagos at 0913 hours on Monday. Efforts to raise the aircraft on radio were unsuccessful, and subsequent confirmation of the crash was made. Keyamo stated that search and rescue efforts were ongoing.
The Nigerian Air Force plays a crucial role in the country's military operations, including efforts to tackle armed groups and insecurity in several parts of Nigeria. The accident is one of the deadliest air disasters in recent years, raising concerns about aviation safety. President Tinubu has ordered the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This incident is not an isolated case, as Nigeria has experienced several air disasters in recent years. In May 2021, Nigeria's army chief, Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, was killed in a plane crash alongside 10 other officers in the north-western state of Kaduna due to bad weather. In February of the same year, seven people died after a military plane crashed short of a runway in the capital Abuja.
The ATR-42 aircraft involved in the crash is a twin-engine turboprop plane commonly used for short-haul flights. The Nigerian military has a fleet of these aircraft, which are used for various purposes, including transporting troops and equipment. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the investigation is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As Nigeria mourns the loss of 32 lives, the government has assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the crash. The incident has raised concerns about aviation safety in Nigeria, and the government has promised to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The nation remains in shock, and the incident will be remembered as one of the deadliest air disasters in recent years.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu declares three days of national mourning for the 32 victims of the military plane crash.
- The crashed plane, an ATR-42 aircraft, had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board.
- The incident is one of the deadliest air disasters in Nigeria in recent years, raising concerns about aviation safety.
