A military aircraft crashed on Monday near a naval base in the swampy area of Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with rescue operations underway at the scene.
The aircraft, reportedly travelling from Benin to Lagos, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda. The Aviation Minister said 32 people, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members, were aboard the aircraft.
Footage from the crash site showed a severely burnt wreckage, while military equipment was reportedly scattered around the area. The condition of those aboard and the number of casualties have not been officially confirmed.
Witnesses said the aircraft was seen circling several times before it crashed as rainfall intensified. However, the cause of the crash remains unknown.
Military personnel from the nearby base are leading rescue efforts, although the swampy terrain has made access to the crash site difficult.
The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the military and said rescue operations are ongoing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances of the incident.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning in honour of Nigerian Air Force personnel who lost their lives in a military aircraft crash in Ondo State.
The President also ordered that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast across the country during the mourning period as a mark of respect for the fallen officers.
The directive followed the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday, October 5, 2026.
According to the Presidency, the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred. The aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended his condolences to the families of the victims, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the entire Nigerian Air Force.
Describing the incident as a painful moment for the nation and the Armed Forces, the President acknowledged the sacrifices made by Nigerian Air Force personnel in protecting the country.
He said their commitment and service to Nigeria would not be forgotten.
Following the crash, Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The investigation, according to the President, is expected to establish the cause of the crash and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
He also commended the Nigerian Air Force for promptly activating search and rescue operations following the accident, as well as first responders and the Ondo State Government for their response at the crash site.
The Presidency said the Nigerian Air Force would release the identities of the deceased officers after their families had been formally notified.
The crash has sparked widespread grief across the country, with government officials and institutions expressing condolences over the loss of the military personnel.
