By TheDailyNewsHub News Desk | October 5, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed condolences over the deaths linked to the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, and ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
The aircraft crashed on Monday, October 5, near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, while travelling from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos on what the Nigerian Air Force described as a routine mission.
The crash initially generated conflicting reports about the type of aircraft involved. Early accounts from the area described a helicopter, but the Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that the aircraft was an ATR-42 and that it belonged to the service.
According to Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, identified by tail number NGR 931, at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday. Attempts to re-establish communication were unsuccessful before authorities were informed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
Keyamo said the wreckage was subsequently located and that search and rescue operations were launched. Preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard, bringing the total number of people on the aircraft to 32.
The Nigerian Air Force said its rescue operation was being conducted in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies. At the initial stage of the operation, officials had not released the identities of those on board or provided a definitive casualty figure.
However, the situation later developed into a fatal accident, with President Tinubu’s office issuing a condolence statement for the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members. The Presidency also prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims, indicating that the crash had resulted in deaths. Later reports said all 32 people aboard were believed to have died.
In his reaction, Tinubu described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and expressed sympathy to the families of those involved, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force.
The President said he had been briefed by the Chief of the Air Staff and directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately begin a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The investigation is expected to establish what caused the aircraft to go down and determine whether any technical, operational or other factors contributed to the accident. No official cause had been announced as of Monday evening.
Tinubu also commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating its search and rescue response, as well as first responders and the Ondo State Government for their efforts at the crash site.
The crash occurred in a difficult riverine area around Igbokoda, where emergency teams worked around the wreckage after the aircraft disappeared from radar during its journey towards Lagos. Reports from the scene described debris around the crash area, while authorities urged members of the public to avoid circulating unverified information as the operation progressed.
The incident has also highlighted the distinction between military and civilian aviation investigations. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau said the crash involved a military aircraft and therefore falls outside its statutory mandate unless the military formally invites the bureau to participate in the investigation.
The Nigerian Air Force’s investigation will therefore be central to determining the circumstances of the accident and providing answers to the families of those who died.
For now, authorities have confirmed the aircraft involved, its route and the number of people aboard, while the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The President’s directive comes as the country mourns the loss of the military personnel and other passengers involved in the accident and awaits the outcome of the investigation.