UPDATED: Military aircraft crashed near Ondo naval base, 32 on board – Keyamo

File: Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed the crash of a military aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, after it disappeared from radar while en route from Benin to Lagos.

In a statement issued by the ministry on Monday, Keyamo said the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, disappeared at about 9:13 am after air traffic controllers lost contact with it.

He said, “I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route to Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.”

According to the minister, the aircraft was subsequently confirmed to have crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

He said the wreckage had been located while search and rescue operations were ongoing.

“Subsequently, information, however, confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located, and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Keyamo stated.

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The minister disclosed that preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.

“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board,” he said.

Keyamo, however, noted that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had no control over or regulatory authority over military aircraft.

“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing,” he said.

He added that further details on the incident would be released as they became available.

“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.”