Nigeria Military Plane Crash Kills All 32 on Board; Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning
Nigeria Military Plane Crash Kills All 32 on Board; Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning
Monday’s Nigeria plane crash killed all 32 people aboard a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 that went down in the country’s southwest. President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags flown at half-mast across the country.
The ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, was on a routine mission from Benin City in Edo State to Lagos when it went down near Igbokoda in Ondo State. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane at about 9:13am local time on Monday, and the wreckage was later found near a naval base in the coastal community.
Nigeria plane crash: no survivors found
The aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members. Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said on Monday evening that the search had produced no survivors.
“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,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The crash site sits in a riverine area surrounded by waterways and swampy terrain, which made the rescue operation difficult. Boats were used to reach the wreckage, and debris and personal effects were found scattered around the area. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo was among the first senior officials to confirm the disaster publicly, saying all efforts to raise the aircraft on radio had proved abortive.
Tinubu orders probe, half-mast flags
Tinubu described the crash as a devastating blow to the armed forces and the entire country. He said the victims had paid the ultimate price in service to Nigeria.
“This is a painful moment for our armed forces and for the entire nation,” the president said in a statement. “Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The president said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, had briefed him, and he had directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately begin a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences. The identities of the victims will be released after their families are formally notified.
Defence Minister Christopher Musa called the deaths an irreparable blow, saying the fallen personnel exemplified the highest standards of military professionalism, loyalty and commitment. He added that a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish what caused the disaster and strengthen safety protocols across military aviation units.
Deadliest Nigerian crash since 2012
The ATR-42 is a twin-engine turboprop used by the Nigerian Air Force mainly for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, including maritime patrol. The aircraft involved, NAF 931, was delivered to Nigeria in 2010 and had undergone major maintenance in Germany before returning to the country in late 2024.
The disaster is one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in Nigeria in recent years, and the country’s worst air crash since the Dana Air Flight 0992 disaster in 2012. The cause of Monday’s crash remains unclear, and the Air Force has not publicly identified one.
What caused the Nigeria plane crash?
The cause is not yet known. President Tinubu has ordered the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation, and the Air Force says the probe will also look at reinforcing operational safety protocols across its aviation units.
Where exactly did the plane go down?
The aircraft crashed near Igbokoda in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, close to a naval base. The area is a coastal, riverine community with swampy terrain, which complicated search and rescue efforts.
Who was on board?
There were 32 people aboard: 25 passengers and seven crew members. Their identities will be released after their families have been formally notified, according to the presidency.
