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Military ATR-42 Crash in Southern Nigeria Triggers Search Operation
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Event Details
A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members went down in the Igbokoda area of Ondo state while on a routine flight from Edo state to Lagos, the country’s economic hub. The aircraft vanished from radar at approximately 9 a.m. local time and was later located near a naval base, about halfway through its journey. Authorities have not confirmed the number of casualties.
Official Response
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo announced that the Nigerian Air Force identified the aircraft as an ATR-42 and that an immediate search and rescue operation had been launched. He confirmed that wreckage had been found and that rescue teams were actively searching the crash site.
Local Observations
Residents near the crash site reported hearing the aircraft strike trees before it went down. A video circulating on social media shows a small crowd gathered near a river while rescuers conduct boat-based searches.
Ongoing Search and Uncertainty
Rescue teams are combing the area by land and water, focusing on the riverine terrain surrounding the crash site. The presence of body parts and personal items suggests the possibility of fatalities, but officials have not released an official casualty count. The investigation into the cause of the crash remains pending, with the Nigerian Air Force leading the effort.