Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that 32 people were aboard the Nigerian military aircraft that crashed in Ondo State on Monday.
Keyamo disclosed that the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board when it crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
In his first official statement on the incident, the minister said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. while it was travelling from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.
“All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” Keyamo said.
He said information subsequently confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, adding that the wreckage had been located.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” he said.
Keyamo said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s cooperation and assistance to the ongoing rescue operation.
He, however, clarified that the control and regulation of military aircraft are outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that the aircraft belongs to the service.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the aircraft was undertaking a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
According to him, the NAF immediately activated a search and rescue operation following the crash.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026,” Ejodame said.
He said the operation was being conducted in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
“The NAF is committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing Search and Rescue efforts. Further details will be communicated in due course,” he added.
While Keyamo has provided the preliminary number of people aboard the aircraft, neither the minister nor the NAF has announced a casualty figure as rescue operations continue.
The NAF had also not disclosed further details about the condition of the passengers and crew in its initial statement.
The aircraft, an ATR-42, is understood to be used by the Nigerian military for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, as well as air maritime missions.
