Squadron Leader Aham Man-Ugwueje has been identified as one of the pilots aboard the Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The ATR-42-500MP aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on Monday, October 5, 2026, while conducting a routine mission between Benin City, Edo State, and Lagos.
The aircraft was operated by the Nigerian Air Force’s 81 Air Maritime Group based in Benin City. The ATR-42 is primarily used for maritime patrol, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, while also being capable of performing limited transport duties.
Initial reports from military sources identified Squadron Leader Aham Man-Ugwueje as the pilot who was flying the aircraft at the time of the crash.
However, the Nigerian Air Force has since released an official list identifying the five crew members on board. According to the Air Force, Squadron Leader MI Aburime was the flight captain, while Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje and Flight Lieutenant IS Bako were listed as co-pilots. Warrant Officer Abubakar A and Corporal Uguru HC were identified as aircraft technicians.
Military sources had earlier told reporters that Man-Ugwueje had recently married, with one source claiming that his wedding took place about two weeks before the accident.
The sources also said some newly commissioned pilot officers were among the people travelling on the aircraft, although the identities of those individuals were initially being withheld pending notification of their families.
The NAF later confirmed that 25 people were officially listed on board the aircraft, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The Air Force subsequently stated that there were no survivors.
The passengers included several officers and other military personnel, alongside civilians identified as Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.
The aircraft disappeared from communication with air traffic controllers shortly after take-off. According to reports, contact was lost at about 9:13 a.m., before the aircraft was located in a swampy area around Igbokoda.
The difficult terrain initially hampered recovery efforts, with military personnel, emergency responders and local fishermen assisting authorities at the crash site.
The aircraft was one of Nigeria’s ATR-42 maritime patrol aircraft acquired through a $73 million agreement with Alenia Aeronautica, now known as Leonardo. The aircraft involved in the crash was reportedly sent to Germany in 2022 for Periodic Depot Maintenance and returned to Nigeria in late 2024.
Following the crash, the Nigerian Air Force activated search-and-rescue operations and coordinated with other relevant authorities. President Bola Tinubu also directed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused the accident and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured them of the Nigerian Air Force’s support during the difficult period.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, flight data, communications with air traffic control, weather conditions and other evidence from the crash site.
The recovery and examination of the aircraft’s flight recorder, if located, could also provide important information about the aircraft’s final moments and assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The tragedy has left the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the victims mourning the loss of the personnel and passengers who were on board NAF 931.
