An eyewitness has described the difficult conditions rescuers encountered while trying to reach the victims of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The military aircraft, an ATR-42 with 32 people on board, crashed in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda on Monday, October 5, while travelling from Benin to Lagos.
According to an eyewitness featured in a report by TVC News Nigeria, residents and security personnel immediately moved towards the crash site after receiving information about the incident.
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The eyewitness said he joined soldiers and other officers in an attempt to reach the occupants of the aircraft and provide assistance.
However, he said the rescue effort was severely affected by the difficult terrain, as the aircraft had gone deep into the swamp.
“When the plane crashed, we went there to rescue the people, but when we got there, we couldn’t help anybody. There was no way to rescue anybody,” the eyewitness said.
He added that the team included soldiers and other officers who attempted to access the crash site but were unable to get close enough because of the condition of the area.
“We went there with some soldiers and officers, but we were not able to rescue anybody because the plane had already entered the swamp,” he said.
The crash site was located in a difficult-to-access riverine area, with local residents and security agencies using boats to reach the location. Other reports from the scene also described the aircraft as being partly submerged or trapped in the swamp, making recovery efforts particularly challenging.
32 People Were On Board
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had earlier disclosed that preliminary information showed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft, bringing the total number of people on board to 32.
Air traffic controllers reportedly lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. while it was travelling from Benin towards Lagos. The wreckage was subsequently located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
President Bola Tinubu has since expressed condolences over the tragedy and ordered an investigation into the crash. Latest reports confirm that all 32 people aboard the aircraft died in the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
Watch the video of the eyewitness speaking about the crash.
