The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has initiated a high-level investigation into the fatal crash of its ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday. The investigation will involve both military and civilian aviation safety experts. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, announced the probe during a visit to the crash site on Thursday. The team will comprise representatives from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), accident and emergency management authorities, and experienced NAF personnel.
The aircraft, registered as NAF 931, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos. Aneke directed his superintendent of safety and evaluation to assemble experts to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. He urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work, emphasizing that speculation was premature. The Air Chief described the crash as a significant loss to the military and the bereaved families, expressing condolences on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and members of the Armed Forces.
Aneke revealed that he had personal ties to those on board, having flown on the aircraft and knowing each of the crew personally. He pledged that the service would leave no stone unturned in determining the cause of the accident and assured the bereaved families of support. The NAF is providing everything possible to ensure the families receive the necessary support. Recovery teams are continuing their search for the main wreckage and the victims' remains in challenging conditions, with thick mangroves, murky water, and deep mud hampering access to the swampy crash site.
The investigation team, led by Air Vice Marshal E. O. E. Ebiowe, is coordinating with aviation, security, and emergency-response agencies. The site has been secured, and recovered items are being properly documented and preserved. Aneke commended the Ondo State Government, security and emergency agencies, and volunteers for their assistance, particularly the residents who first reached the scene. He praised the Nigerians for coming together in times of crisis.
In a separate incident, a NAF helicopter made a precautionary landing on farmland in Makurdi, Benue State, on Wednesday. The helicopter, which had provided close air support to ground troops and disrupted suspected kidnappers' activities, returned to base after completing its mission. The pilot exercised professional discretion in making the landing due to issues with the primary and secondary engine fuel feed.
According to eyewitnesses, the pilots told villagers that they could not safely reach the Air Force Base and diverted to the farmland. Fortunately, both pilots were safely evacuated, and only crops were damaged. The NAF reaffirmed its commitment to protecting communities and sustaining pressure on criminal groups through coordinated air and ground operations.
The NAF has promised to establish the cause of the Ondo air crash and provide support to the victims' families. The investigation is ongoing, with evidence being secured, documented, and preserved for detailed examination. The service is working to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and ensure that necessary measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- The Nigerian Air Force has ordered a high-level investigation into the fatal ATR-42 aircraft crash in Ondo State, involving both military and civilian aviation safety experts.
- The investigation aims to establish the cause of the crash and provide support to the victims' families.
- A separate incident involving a NAF helicopter making a precautionary landing in Makurdi, Benue State, is also under investigation.
