Ondo Crash: No Survivor Found Yet

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said no survivor has so far been found at the site of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, as emergency agencies intensify search and rescue efforts.

The aircraft, an ATR-42 with registration number NGR 931, crashed on Monday, October 5, 2026, in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base in Igbokoda during a routine mission from Benin in Edo State to Lagos.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13am after efforts to reach the crew by radio proved unsuccessful.

Keyamo later confirmed that the wreckage had been located close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, while search and rescue operations commenced in coordination with relevant authorities.

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

The Nigerian Air Force subsequently identified the aircraft as one of its ATR-42 platforms and said it had immediately activated a search and rescue operation in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

Aiyedatiwa said he had been in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, and security agencies deployed to the area.

The governor directed the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency, the Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies to mobilise personnel, medical resources and other logistical support for the rescue operation.

He also ordered security agencies to cordon off the crash site to prevent interference and create the necessary conditions for emergency responders to conduct their operations without obstruction.

Aiyedatiwa appealed to residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to remain calm and cooperate with emergency personnel while urging the public to rely on verified information from the authorities.

The crash has generated anxiety across Igbokoda, a coastal community in Ondo State, with eyewitness accounts indicating that the aircraft came down near a river and that debris was scattered around the crash site.

The Associated Press reported that local witnesses described hearing a sound resembling a thunder strike before the aircraft went down, while parts of the aircraft, clothing and other debris were seen around the area.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed grief over the incident and directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.

The President extended condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the wider Nigerian Air Force community.

Tinubu also commended the immediate activation of the search and rescue operation and pledged continued support for the armed forces as they carry out their national security responsibilities.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, while authorities continue efforts to locate and identify everyone who was aboard the aircraft.

At the time of the latest reports, Aiyedatiwa said no survivor had been found at the crash site, although rescue operations remained active and authorities had not yet issued a definitive official account of the casualties.

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