Air Force plane carrying 32 people crashes
LAGOS: A Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed on Monday in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria, with 32 people on board, according to military officials and the Minister of Aviation. The incident occurred during a routine…
Source: Utusan Malaysia · October 6, 2026 at 3:07 AM · AI-assisted report
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ONDO STATE, NIGERIA, 6 OCTOBER 2026 —
LAGOS: A Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed on Monday in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria, with 32 people on board, according to military officials and the Minister of Aviation. The incident occurred during a routine mission, marking a significant safety event for the regional aviation sector.
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Military spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame stated that the plane was flying from Benin City in southern Nigeria to Lagos, the country’s economic hub, when it went down at Igbokoda in Ondo State. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo provided specific figures regarding the casualties, noting that initial information indicated there were 25 passengers and seven crew members inside the aircraft.
Keyamo made these remarks on the social media platform X, confirming the high number of individuals involved in the crash.
The wreckage of the crashed aircraft was located near a naval base, according to Keyamo. This proximity to a military installation may influence the logistics of the recovery and investigation processes. The crash site is in Ondo State, a region in southwestern Nigeria, which is a densely populated area with significant economic activity.
Video footage circulating on social media showed a small group of people gathering near a river while rescue teams searched the area using boats. The visual evidence suggests that the crash site is close to a water body, complicating the search and rescue efforts. The presence of civilians near the scene highlights the immediate public response to the disaster.
Ejodame confirmed that search and rescue operations are currently underway in cooperation with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies. The military emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort, involving multiple government bodies to manage the crisis. The ongoing operations aim to locate survivors and recover the wreckage for subsequent investigation.
The crash of a military transport aircraft with 32 people on board raises concerns about aviation safety standards in Nigeria. As a key player in West African air transport, incidents of this magnitude draw attention to the maintenance and operational protocols of the Nigerian Air Force. The event underscores the risks associated with military aviation in the region and may prompt reviews of safety regulations.
The next steps will involve a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash, with findings expected to influence future aviation policies in Nigeria and potentially across the region.
Related: naval base · Festus Keyamo