Military Aircraft Crashes Near Igbokoda Naval Base in Ondo, 32 People Reportedly On Board
A military aircraft travelling from Benin to Lagos has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft on Monday morning.
The aircraft, identified by tail number NGR 931, was reported missing at about 9:13 a.m., according to a statement issued by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Keyamo said air traffic controllers initially informed him that efforts to establish radio contact with the aircraft had failed.
He later confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, where the wreckage has now been located.
Festus Keyamo Hon. Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Search and rescue operation underway
According to the minister, search and rescue operations are ongoing at the crash site.
Preliminary information indicates that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board, putting the reported number of people aboard at 32.
However, the statement did not provide information on casualties or the condition of those on board.
Keyamo said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s full cooperation and assistance with the ongoing search and rescue effort.
Military aircraft outside civil aviation authority
The minister also clarified that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the civil aviation authorities.
Despite this, he said his ministry would support the response to the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the crash, including what happened between the aircraft’s departure from Benin and its discovery near Igbokoda, have not yet been fully established.
Further information is expected as search and rescue teams continue operations and authorities assess the situation.
For now, the focus remains on the people reportedly aboard the aircraft and the ongoing efforts to determine their condition and establish the full circumstances of the crash.
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