A military aircraft carrying 32 people crashed on Monday in southwestern Nigeria, with all lives lost, according to President Bola Tinubu. The ATR-42 aircraft went down near Igbokoda in Ondo State during a routine flight from Benin to Lagos. Nigerian officials confirmed later that all passengers and crew members perished.
Plane Disappeared from Radar During Flight
The crash occurred on October 5, 2026. The military plane was en route from Benin City to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time.
According to Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation, the aircraft was later confirmed to have crashed near the naval base in Igbokoda. Rescue teams were dispatched to the site immediately.
Preliminary information indicated there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board. The Nigerian Air Force stated the flight was a routine mission between Benin and Lagos.
President Confirms No Survivors
Initial reports after the crash did not specify the number of casualties. Authorities focused first on search and rescue operations and the condition of those on board was unclear.
The situation changed later, when President Bola Tinubu offered condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members, confirming that there were no survivors. He ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
“This is a painful moment for our armed forces and the entire nation,” the president said in response to the disaster.
Aircraft Crashed Near a River
The plane went down in the area of Igbokoda, located in Ondo State in southern Nigeria, known for its waterways and marshy terrain.
According to witnesses cited by the Associated Press, the scene was littered with plane debris, clothing, and other remains. Emergency responders were seen searching nearby water bodies around the crash site.
Early information also indicated that the aircraft vanished from radar approximately halfway between Benin and Lagos.
The Downed Aircraft Was an ATR-42
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the crashed plane was an ATR-42, an aircraft used for passenger and cargo transport as well as intelligence and reconnaissance missions.
The Nigerian Air Force stated that a search and rescue operation was immediately launched after the crash in cooperation with other agencies and emergency services.
The exact cause of the crash is not yet known. President Tinubu has called for an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy.
Rescue and Security Teams Deployed at Crash Site
After the crash was confirmed, rescue teams were dispatched to the area. Local authorities secured the surroundings of the crash site to allow investigators and rescue workers to operate.
The governor of Ondo State ordered the deployment of state rescue and security teams, stating the priority was to support the operation at the crash site and ensure its smooth progress.
Such aviation tragedies highlight the risks facing crews on military and rescue flights. Aktualizovane.sk previously reported on a police helicopter crash in the United States, in which two crew members were killed. Tragedy during a police operation in Arizona: The helicopter crash claimed the lives of a pilot and a rescuer.
Investigation to Determine Cause of Crash
At this time, it is not confirmed whether the crash was caused by technical failure, pilot error, weather, or another factor. Such conclusions can only be drawn after a professional investigation.
Nigerian authorities have not yet released details about the plane’s final moments. Investigators will examine the condition of the aircraft, its flight path, communications with air traffic controllers, and other available data.
President Tinubu also called for the investigation to start immediately after the accident, with the goal of determining the cause and taking measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Aktualizovane.sk has previously reported on a small plane crash near Sládkovičovo, Slovakia, in which there were two people on board. Near Sládkovičovo, a small plane crashed. The pilot was taken to the hospital and a helicopter was dispatched for a woman on board.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
