A Nigerian Air Force aircraft has crashed in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with 32 people reportedly on board.
The incident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, during a routine flight from Benin to Lagos.
The Nigerian Air Force identified the aircraft as an ATR-42, while Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said it had tail number NGR 931.
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According to Keyamo, air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. after it was travelling towards Lagos from Benin. Attempts to re-establish communication with the aircraft were unsuccessful.
Information received subsequently confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, where the wreckage was later located.
32 People Reportedly On Board
Preliminary information provided by the Aviation Minister indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board, bringing the reported total to 32 people.
However, authorities had not released the identities or conditions of the people aboard the aircraft at the time of the latest official updates.
The Nigerian Air Force said search-and-rescue operations had been activated in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
Casualty Figures Not Yet Confirmed
Although some early reports suggested that there could have been fatalities, official authorities had not confirmed the number of casualties or survivors as of the latest reports.
The Ondo State Police Command also confirmed the crash and appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information while authorities worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed.
The Aviation Minister said the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority do not regulate military aircraft, but he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation with the ongoing rescue efforts.
The Nigerian Air Force said further information would be communicated as the search-and-rescue operation progresses.
PenTalk News will update this report as authorities release confirmed information about the passengers, crew members, survivors and casualties.
