The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is in mourning following a tragic ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, that claimed the lives of 32 people, including 25 passengers and 7 crew members. The incident occurred on Monday morning as the aircraft, with a routine mission from Benin to Lagos, crashed into a swamp opposite the Naval Base. Among the victims was Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje, a pilot who had recently gotten married to Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle.
Squadron Leader Man-Ugwueje and Flight Lieutenant Adekunle tied the knot on September 19, 2026, in Abuja. Man-Ugwueje had a distinguished career, having attended Air Force Comprehensive School, Oyo State, and studied civil engineering at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He was commissioned as a pilot officer into the NAF in 2015 and rose through the ranks to become a squadron leader. Man-Ugwueje was serving as a co-pilot on the ill-fated aircraft.
The NAF has released the names of the crew members and passengers on board the plane. The crew included Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain), Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (co-pilot), Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (co-pilot), Warrant Officer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician), and Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician). The passengers included several military personnel, as well as civilians.
Tributes have been pouring in for the victims, including Flying Officer IM Adeshina, who was described as the best graduating cadet of Branch Commission Course 3. Adeshina was commissioned into the NAF on September 26, 2026, and died in the aircraft crash just nine days later. The NAF has opened a condolence register at its headquarters in Abuja for people to commiserate with the service and the families of the deceased.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. on the day of the crash. Attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft failed, prompting authorities to alert relevant agencies. The NAF has begun a probe into the causes of the crash, with the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, directing a comprehensive investigation.
The Chief of Air Staff has described the incident as a "deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation." Aneke has expressed heartfelt sympathies to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of those who lost their lives, assuring them of the service's full support during this difficult period. The NAF will provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has ordered tighter safety protocols to safeguard the lives of military personnel. Musa described the loss of "these valiant patriots" as an irreparable blow to the military high command, their comrades-in-arms, and the entire country. A comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has been ordered to ascertain the cause and ensure all necessary operational safety measures are taken.
Key points
- 32 people, including 25 passengers and 7 crew members, died in the ATR-42 aircraft crash in Ondo State.
- Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje, a pilot, had recently gotten married before the crash.
- The NAF has begun a probe into the causes of the crash and has opened a condolence register at its headquarters in Abuja.
