NAF to honour 25 Ondo plane crash victims November 26

FILE: The crashed NAF plane

The Nigerian Air Force will hold a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony on November 26 in honour of the 25 people who died in the October 5 crash of its NAF 931 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The ceremony will take place at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, to enable bereaved families, colleagues, friends and members of the Air Force community to pay their last respects to the victims.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said the ceremony would provide an opportunity to “honour the memories of the departed and recognise their service and sacrifice”.

The Air Force also confirmed the recovery of the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder, alongside other wreckage and relevant evidence, from the crash site.

According to the statement, data retrieved from the recorder is being analysed and is expected to contribute to the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

“The investigation is progressing steadily in collaboration with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),” the statement said.

The NAF said recovery operations had yielded several human remains and aircraft fragments, while the identification of the recovered remains was ongoing.

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It attributed the difficulty of the operation to the swampy nature of the terrain and the depth to which some parts of the wreckage had penetrated the ground.

The Service also said it was engaging relevant agencies to address environmental concerns arising from the recovery exercise and ensure appropriate remediation after its completion.

“The NAF remains committed to ensuring that the investigation is conducted in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, accountability and responsibility,” the statement added.

The Air Force said it remained committed to supporting the families of the victims and appreciated the cooperation of relevant agencies, host communities and other stakeholders involved in the recovery and investigation efforts.

On October 5, 2026, the NAF ATR-42 aircraft (NAF 931 / NGR 931), configured for maritime patrol and related duties, crashed in a swampy area near the coastal town of Igbokoda in Ondo State while on a flight from Benin City to Lagos.

The aircraft had 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The Air Force subsequently confirmed that no one survived the accident.

Following the crash, President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered an investigation into the incident.

The NAF later constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to establish the circumstances and possible causes of the crash.