A Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in southwestern Nigeria on Monday, killing all 32 people travelling aboard the plane.
President Bola Tinubu confirmed the deaths after the aircraft went down in Igbokoda, Ondo state. The crash occurred shortly after 9:00am local time.
The aircraft was travelling from Benin City in southern Nigeria to Lagos, the country’s economic hub. Officials said it had been carrying out a “routine mission” when it crashed.
25 Passengers and Seven Crew Members Killed
Tinubu’s office confirmed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft.
“The president extends his deepest condolences to the family of the 25 passengers and seven crew members involved,” Tinubu’s office said in a statement.
The statement followed confirmation from the Nigerian Air Force that everyone aboard the aircraft had died. The crash has prompted an investigation into what caused the aircraft to go down.
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said the aircraft crashed near a naval base. Both Keyamo and Tinubu identified the aircraft as an ATR-42.
The ATR-42 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Its manufacturers say the aircraft can carry between 30 and 50 passengers.
Rescue Efforts Underway at Crash Site
Footage circulating on social media showed a small crowd gathered near a river at the crash site. Rescuers could also be seen searching the area by boat.
Following the crash, authorities began efforts to examine the scene and establish what happened. The location near the river made boat searches part of the response.
Tinubu has also ordered a formal investigation into the incident.
“I directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” the president said.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s final moments. It will also seek to determine why the plane crashed during its journey.
Local Resident Recalls Hearing Loud Sound
Residents living near the crash site also described the moments surrounding the incident.
Dayo Akinte, a 39-year-old firewood hawker, lives about a kilometre from where the crash occurred. She said she heard a sound that she initially believed was “thunder”.
Akinte said the sound occurred around the time she believes the aircraft went down. She also observed continued aircraft activity over the crash site afterward.
Since the crash, “three aircraft have also been flying over the scene”, she said by phone.
According to Akinte, a person who had gone fishing in the swamp alerted the nearby naval base. The person also informed people in the surrounding town about the crash.
The account highlights how residents close to the area became aware of the incident soon after it occurred.
Crash Occurs in Oil-Producing Region
The aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, an area located in Ilaje in southern Nigeria. Ilaje is an oil-producing region.
The incident has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the military aircraft’s routine journey. However, authorities have yet to establish the cause of the crash.
The investigation ordered by President Tinubu will now focus on determining what caused the aircraft to go down. Officials will also examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of all 32 people aboard.
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