Fresh details have emerged about the final journey of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board.
The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, had been travelling to Lagos after stopping in Benin City, Edo State. Initial reports described the flight as a routine mission from Benin to Lagos. However, new information from sources familiar with the incident suggests that the aircraft may have experienced a technical problem before its final departure from Benin.
According to the new account, the aircraft had reportedly departed Abuja for Lagos on Sunday, October 5, with passengers scheduled to disembark in Benin City. After landing in Benin, the aircraft was expected to continue to Lagos.
However, sources said the aircraft developed an engine-related fault while in Benin. The reported problem meant that it remained on the ground overnight while technicians worked on it.
The aircraft eventually departed Benin for Lagos on Monday morning after engineers reportedly completed repairs. It crashed only minutes after take-off, coming down in the Obe-Rebby swamp area of Igbokoda.
Air traffic controllers reportedly lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. after communication had initially been established following take-off. The aircraft subsequently disappeared from radar, triggering search and rescue efforts.
The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that the aircraft was an ATR-42 and that it had been conducting a mission between Benin and Lagos. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage in the swampy area near the naval base in Igbokoda.
The crash claimed the lives of 25 people, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The Nigerian Air Force has since released the names of all those who died and confirmed that there were no survivors.
The circumstances surrounding the reported technical problem, the repairs carried out in Benin and what happened during the aircraft’s final flight remain subject to investigation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the crash to determine its cause and prevent a recurrence. He also declared three days of national mourning and directed that flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims.
The Nigerian Air Force has urged the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while investigators work to establish exactly what caused the tragedy.
The latest reports could provide investigators with an important line of inquiry, particularly concerning the aircraft’s reported technical fault and the maintenance work carried out before its final departure from Benin. However, no official investigation has yet established that the reported fault was responsible for the crash.
