A military aircraft carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the aircraft had disappeared from radar after leaving Benin for Lagos.
According to Keyamo, Air Traffic Controllers were informed of the disappearance of the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, at about 9:13 a.m.
He said all efforts by air traffic controllers to establish radio contact with the aircraft initially proved abortive.
Keyamo, however, said subsequent information confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, while the wreckage had been located.
He stated that search and rescue operations were ongoing, although there was no official confirmation at the time of filing this report on the fate of those on board.
The minister said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members, making a total of 32 people, were aboard the aircraft.
Keyamo noted that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
He added that he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s total cooperation and assistance in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
He said further information on the incident would be made available as it emerges.
