By: Okosun Dennis

Following the unfortunate Airforce plane crash at Igbokoda, Ondo state on Monday, 32 people have been confirmed as the passengers of the ill-fated airplane.

The Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo confirmed in his X handle shortly after the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Nigerian Airforce in Abuja, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame had confirmed the crash and disclosed that the ATR-42 aircraft belongs to the Nigerian Airforce.

“I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.

“Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board, Festus Keyamo disclosed.

He added that the place was on routine flight from Benin City to Lagos before the unfortunate crash.

The manifest of the passengers has not been disclosed. Also, no causalities have been claimed yet.

The Nigerian Air Force deploys the ATR-42 aircraft primarily for maritime patrol, intelligence gathering, and surveillance missions in addition to lifting passengers.

It would be recalled that the only time Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft was previously involved in an accident was during a hard landing / minor accident in May 2021 in Edo State / Akure, Ondo State.

The Airforce has two ATR-42 aircraft in operation marked: NAF 930 and NAF 931.