A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed into a swampy area near the coastal community of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday. The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos with 32 people on board, including 25 passengers and seven crew members. Residents reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing bodies, pieces of the aircraft, and personal belongings scattered across the waterlogged crash site.
Witnesses described the difficult terrain, which prevented them from getting close to the wreckage. Hosea Maha, a community leader, said he was fishing on the other side of the river when he heard the explosion. He and other residents mobilized to the area and discovered body parts scattered across the waterside. The residents were unable to enter the crash site due to the deep swampy area, but they reported the situation to naval officers.
Oluboyo Olusola, one of the residents who got close to the crash area, said he saw aircraft parts, clothes, and remains around the site. He noted that some of the clothing found at the scene appeared to belong to women and children. Abayomi Festus, another resident, said the location of the crash site inside the creek made it difficult to access. He added that security personnel later moved into the area as residents waited anxiously for news from the crash site.
Akinte Oluwatere, a witness, said the aircraft had already gone deep into the swamp, making it impossible for residents to rescue anyone. He noted that naval personnel arrived shortly afterwards and joined the effort to access the crash location. Ayedugbe Abel said the heavy rainfall at the time further complicated efforts to locate the exact crash site. He added that residents immediately mobilized to search for the aircraft and its occupants.
Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Taiwo Sadare, said the local government, naval personnel, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were involved in the response. He noted that a helicopter was deployed from Abuja to monitor the situation and locate the crash site. Sadare said preliminary information from the scene suggested that bad weather may have affected the aircraft.
The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said the location of the crash prevented what could have been an even greater tragedy. He noted that the aircraft came down across a river in a bushy and waterlogged area, and there were no reports of survivors at the time he spoke. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed sadness over the incident and extended condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and the families of those on board.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that one of its aircraft crashed and said it had activated search-and-rescue operations. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the crash, saying air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. The Nigerian Air Force said it was committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
Key points
- The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos with 32 people on board.
- The cause of the crash had yet to be officially established as of the time of filing the report.
- The location of the crash prevented what could have been an even greater tragedy, according to the traditional ruler of Igbokoda.
