All 32 Die as Nigerian Military Aircraft Crashes in Ondo

A Nigerian military aircraft has crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 32 people on board, according to an update from President Bola Tinubu. The aircraft, operated by the Nigerian Air Force, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, initially confirmed that air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, which had tail number NGR 931, at about 9:13 a.m. while it was travelling from Benin to Lagos.

Keyamo said subsequent information confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda and that the wreckage had been located. At the time of his initial statement, search and rescue operations were still underway and the condition of those on board had not been established.

The Nigerian Air Force later identified the aircraft as an ATR-42 and said it had been carrying out a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. The Air Force activated search and rescue operations in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently confirmed that all 32 people aboard the aircraft died in the crash. The development turns the incident into one of the country’s deadliest military aviation accidents in recent years.

The aircraft came down in the Igbokoda area, with reports indicating that the crash site was near a river. Rescue personnel and other emergency responders were deployed to the area as authorities worked to recover the victims and secure the crash site.

The cause of the crash has not yet been established. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s loss of contact and subsequent crash.

Keyamo also noted that the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority do not exercise regulatory control over military aircraft. He said, however, that he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation with the rescue and recovery efforts.

The tragedy has prompted condolences and renewed attention to military aviation safety as authorities continue the recovery operation and further investigation into what caused the aircraft to go down.