Ondo Air Force Crash: No Survivors as 32 Die in Igbokoda

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said no survivor was found at the site of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

Aiyedatiwa disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Monday, hours after the aircraft crashed in a swampy area near the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda.

According to the governor, residents, security personnel and emergency responders searched the crash site but did not find anyone alive.

He said he received information about the incident at about 10:30 a.m. after the chairman of Ilaje Local Government contacted him.

Aiyedatiwa said residents across the river from the naval base heard a loud sound before some witnesses saw the aircraft dive into a swamp.

He explained that Nigerian Navy personnel initially stayed back to establish that there was no risk of fire or an explosion before moving towards the crash site.

Local emergency officials, residents and members of the Amotekun Corps subsequently joined the search operation.

“From the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment. They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft,” the governor said.

Aiyedatiwa said responders recovered portions of the aircraft, including parts of the wings, identification cards and military uniforms. He added that the main body of the aircraft had gone deep into the swamp, making access difficult.

The aircraft was an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931. It was travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos on a routine mission when air traffic controllers lost contact with it shortly after 9:00 a.m.

Preliminary information released by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft, bringing the total number of people on board to 32.

Later on Monday, President Bola Tinubu confirmed that there were no survivors and expressed condolences to the families of those who died in the crash.

Tinubu also directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and measures to prevent a recurrence.

The cause of the crash remains unknown. Authorities are expected to examine the wreckage and other available evidence as part of the investigation.

Aiyedatiwa described the incident as a painful tragedy, particularly because it occurred in his home state and local government.

He expressed sympathy to the Nigerian military personnel and other passengers aboard the aircraft, describing them as people serving the country.

The Nigerian Air Force and other relevant authorities are continuing recovery and investigation efforts at the crash site.