- Crash took place near Ondo naval base – Keyamo
The Federal Government through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has confirmed the crash of a military aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, with 32 people on board, after it disappeared from radar while en route from Benin to Lagos.
In a statement issued by the ministry on Monday, Keyamo said the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, disappeared at about 9:13 am after air traffic controllers lost contact with it.
The Minister, who disclosed that the air traffic controllers alerted authorities after attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft failed, said: “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, en route to Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.”
According to the minister, subsequent information confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with the wreckage already located, while search and rescue operations were ongoing.
Keyamo further disclosed that “Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board”, noting that the control and regulation of military aircraft are outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
However, he said: “Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing”.
As a stunned nation waits for answers, the Minister, while acknowledging the urgent need for clarity, pledged that every new development in this heartbreaking tragedy will be shared immediately with the public, adding assuredly: “Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.”
