A Nigerian military plane has crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday morning, October 5, 2026, leaving no survivors.
The Nigerian Air Force plane, an ATR-42 aircraft with tail number NGR 931, was reportedly traveling from Benin to Lagos when it disappeared from the radio radar at around 9:13 a.m.
According to sources, air traffic controllers tried repeatedly to contact the pilots but received no response before the aircraft went down.
At the time of flight, the aircraft was reportedly carrying 32 people, including 25 passengers and seven crew members. Local emergency workers, security forces, and residents who rushed to the scene said they could not find anyone alive.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa also confirmed that from all immediate reports, no single life was rescued from the wreckage.
Informant revealed that the plane crashed into a wet, swampy area directly opposite the Nigerian Naval Base in the Igbokoda community. Eyewitnesses in the coastal town reported seeing the plane circle the sky several times as heavy rain began to fall just before it plunged into the ground.
The sound of the crash sent shockwaves and panic through the riverine neighbourhood, which relies heavily on aviation for its oil and gas transport logistics.
Officials from the Nigerian Air Force soon launched a search and rescue mission alongside other emergency teams. Sources say the rescued teams faced heavy challenges reaching the impact site because of the thick mud and wet terrain of the swamp. Video footage and reports from the location showed burnt wreckage and scattered military equipment spread across the area.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, explained that while the ministry does not control military flights, they are fully assisting the Air Force with ongoing recovery work. Keyamo stated that he has been in close communication with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to offer all necessary civil resources.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed grief over the tragic incident, calling the accident a painful loss for the entire nation. In an official statement, the president praised the sacrifices of the air force personnel who risk their lives daily to keep Nigeria safe.
The military has promised to share more details about the flight’s mission and results from the investigation as soon as they become available.
