Thirty-two people were aboard a military aircraft that disappeared from radar and later crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said.
Keyamo, in a statement on Monday, said Air Traffic Controllers alerted him after the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, failed to respond to radio calls while en route to Lagos from Benin at about 9:13am.
He said the aircraft was subsequently confirmed to have crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, where its wreckage had been located.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” Keyamo said.
According to the minister, search and rescue operations were ongoing at the crash site as authorities worked to establish the fate of those on board.
Keyamo said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s cooperation and assistance in the rescue operation.
He, however, noted that the control and regulation of military aircraft were outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently,” the minister said.
