Nigeria has witnessed a series of military aircraft crashes in recent years, sparking concerns over the safety of its military aviation fleet. According to an analysis of military aviation incidents, at least 10 crashes have occurred between 2021 and October 2026, resulting in 68 confirmed and presumed deaths. The incidents involved various types of aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, training aircraft, transport aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The latest incident occurred on October 7, 2026, when a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State. The aircraft, registration number NAF 931, was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at 9:13 am. The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 people on board, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members, died in the crash.
The frequency of military aircraft accidents has raised concerns among aviation stakeholders, who are calling for a comprehensive review of military aviation safety systems. Aviation analyst and member of the Aviation Round Table, Olumide Ohunayo, said the Air Force needed to urgently review its safety systems. He acknowledged that figures on the total number of military aviation accidents varied, but argued that even lower estimates pointed to a serious safety concern.
Ohunayo called for stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau. He argued that the continued loss of military personnel and public assets could no longer be treated as an exclusively military matter, stressing the need for greater cooperation between the military and civilian aviation safety institutions.
The deadliest period within the five-year review was 2021, when several military aircraft were lost. On February 21, 2021, a NAF Beechcraft King Air 350i crashed shortly after taking off from Abuja, killing all seven military personnel on board. On March 31, 2021, an Alpha Jet conducting operations in Borno State disappeared from radar, and its wreckage was later found in the Sambisa Forest.
The losses continued into 2022 and 2023, with a NAF Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crashing in Kaduna, killing its two pilots, and an NAF FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashing in Makurdi, Benue State, although both pilots survived. In 2023, an NAF Mi-171 helicopter carrying out a casualty evacuation mission crashed at Chukuba village in Niger State, killing 11 people.
The October 2026 ATR-42 crash has added another fatal incident to the record, highlighting the need for the Air Force to review its operational manuals, procedures, and processes. Ohunayo urged the military to involve aviation regulators, accident investigators, and other professionals in efforts to identify weaknesses in the system and prevent future crashes.
Key points
- The Nigerian Air Force has recorded at least 10 military aircraft crashes between 2021 and October 2026, resulting in 68 confirmed and presumed deaths.
- Aviation stakeholders are calling for a comprehensive review of military aviation safety systems, including aircraft maintenance, airworthiness standards, and operational procedures.
- The incidents have occurred in various circumstances, including combat operations, training, routine missions, casualty evacuation, and post-maintenance checks.
