By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has established a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to determine the cause of the fatal crash involving its ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on October 5, 2026.
The board will investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, examine possible contributing factors and recommend measures to improve aviation safety and prevent similar tragedies.
The investigation follows earlier reports on the tragedy, including the initial account of the NAF aircraft crash in Ondo and the search-and-rescue operation. The Defence Headquarters also mourned the victims and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The development was announced on Tuesday, October 13, by the Air Force, following the crash of aircraft NAF 931 during a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos. The aircraft went down in a swampy area near a naval base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area. The incident claimed the lives of those on board.
Air Vice Marshal F.O. Ankeli will lead the investigation board, while Air Vice Marshal E.O.E. Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, will coordinate the wider recovery and investigative response.
According to reports on the Air Force announcement, the 12-member panel includes specialists in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance and medical services. Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are also involved, bringing civilian aviation expertise into the investigation.
The inquiry is expected to examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the crash. Investigators will also assess the emergency response, recovery activities and handling of the accident scene.
The board is expected to collect and preserve relevant evidence to establish both the immediate cause of the accident and any underlying safety issues. The Air Force has cautioned against speculation while the investigation is ongoing.
Recovery operations at the crash site have been complicated by the swampy terrain, thick vegetation, deep mud and murky water. These conditions have made it difficult for personnel to reach the main wreckage and recover remains and aircraft components that could provide important evidence.
President Bola Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation shortly after the crash and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. He also declared three days of national mourning in their honour.
Initial reports about the number of people aboard the aircraft caused some confusion. While early official communications referred to 25 passengers and seven crew members, subsequent reporting based on Nigerian Air Force clarification put the total number on board at 25, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members. All 25 died in the crash.
The tragedy has renewed public attention on the maintenance, airworthiness and operational safety of Nigeria’s military aircraft. On October 13, the Senate resolved to investigate budgetary provisions for Air Force aircraft maintenance, while the House of Representatives also moved to examine aircraft safety and maintenance. Lawmakers called for a comprehensive investigation into the crash and stronger measures to prevent future incidents.
The investigation is therefore expected to have implications beyond determining what happened to NAF 931. Its findings could help identify gaps in aircraft maintenance, operational procedures, safety oversight or emergency response, should evidence establish that any of these factors contributed to the accident.
The Nigerian Air Force has said the findings will inform recommendations aimed at strengthening aviation safety. Until the board completes its work and releases verified conclusions, the precise cause of the crash remains undetermined.