The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has scheduled November 26 for a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the 25 officers killed in the NAF 931 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The ceremony will take place at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, where bereaved families, colleagues, friends and members of the NAF community are expected to gather to pay their last respects to the victims.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced the ceremony in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, the event will honour the memories of the deceased personnel and recognise their service and sacrifice.
The announcement comes as recovery and investigation into the October 5 crash continue, with the Air Force confirming the recovery of the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), alongside other wreckage and relevant evidence from the crash site.
NAF said data retrieved from the recorder was being analysed and would contribute significantly to efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), with the Air Force saying it remains committed to professional, transparent and accountable processes.
Recovery teams have also retrieved several human remains and aircraft fragments from the crash site, while the identification of the recovered remains is ongoing.
The operation has been complicated by the swampy terrain at Igbokoda and the depth to which parts of the wreckage penetrated the ground.
NAF said it was also engaging relevant agencies on environmental concerns arising from the recovery exercise and would ensure appropriate remediation after the operation.
The Air Force said it recognises the grief of families affected by the tragedy and remains committed to providing them with sustained support.
It also acknowledged the cooperation of government agencies, host communities and other stakeholders involved in the recovery and investigation efforts.
NAF 931, an ATR 42 aircraft, crashed on October 5 while conducting a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft before the wreckage was eventually located in a swampy area around Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
All 25 people aboard — comprising five crew members and 20 passengers — died in the accident.
Recovery of the CVR represents a significant development in the investigation, as cockpit recordings can provide investigators with critical information about events and communications in the flight deck before an accident.
NAF said the investigation would ultimately seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash and provide lessons capable of strengthening flight safety and preventing similar incidents.
