Date: October 5, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that an ATR-42 military aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday while carrying out a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
The aircraft, which disappeared from radar during its journey, was carrying 32 people — 25 passengers and seven crew members — according to Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The wreckage was located near a naval base in Igbokoda, where emergency personnel launched search and rescue operations.
The Nigerian Air Force initially confirmed that the aircraft involved was an ATR-42, correcting earlier reports from residents that a helicopter had crashed in the area. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said the aircraft was conducting a routine mission between Benin and Lagos when the accident occurred.
According to Keyamo, air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time. Attempts to re-establish radio communication were unsuccessful before authorities received information that the aircraft had crashed close to the naval base at Igbokoda.
“The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Keyamo said in a statement announcing the discovery of the crash site. He said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members had been aboard.
The crash occurred in a riverine and swampy part of Igbokoda, a coastal community and commercial centre in Ondo State. Local residents described hearing a loud noise before seeing the aircraft go down. Some witnesses reported seeing debris and parts of the aircraft near a river.
At the initial stage of the rescue operation, authorities had not released a confirmed casualty figure. However, later on Monday, President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences over the deaths of the 32 people aboard the aircraft, indicating that there were no survivors. The president said he had directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
The Nigerian Air Force said its search and rescue operation was being conducted in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies. The military said additional details would be released as the operation and investigation progressed.
The aircraft involved was an ATR-42, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that the Nigerian military has used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well as transportation. Nigeria operates ATR-42 aircraft configured for maritime patrol and ISR duties.
The circumstances that caused the aircraft to crash remain unclear. Authorities have not publicly attributed the accident to mechanical failure, weather, pilot error or any other specific factor. The investigation is expected to examine the aircraft's flight path, communications with air traffic controllers, technical condition, weather conditions and other available evidence.
The National Safety Investigation Bureau has indicated that it is prepared to assist if requested by the Nigerian Air Force. Such assistance could include investigators and technical resources for recovering and analysing flight-data and cockpit-voice information.
The incident has prompted mourning across Nigeria, particularly within the Nigerian Armed Forces. President Tinubu described the crash as a painful moment for the military and extended condolences to the families of those aboard, the Chief of the Air Staff and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force. He also praised first responders and the Ondo State government for their response at the crash site.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa also directed state emergency agencies to support the response at Igbokoda and expressed condolences to the families of those who died. The aircraft was identified as having gone down in a swampy area opposite the naval base.
The crash adds to concerns surrounding aviation safety and military flight operations in Nigeria, although the cause of this particular accident has yet to be established. Investigators will now work to determine what happened between the aircraft's departure from Benin and the loss of contact before the fatal crash in Ondo State.
The Nigerian Air Force has not indicated that the aircraft was involved in combat or an operational military engagement. Officials described the Benin-to-Lagos journey as a routine mission.
As recovery and investigative work continues, authorities are expected to release additional information about the aircraft, those aboard and the circumstances leading to the crash. The deaths of all 32 people aboard make the incident one of the country's most serious military aviation tragedies in recent years.