The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed the crash of a military aircraft near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
Keyamo said the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, disappeared from radar at about 9:13am on Monday while travelling from Benin to Lagos.
In a statement issued by the ministry, the minister said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft after it departed Benin, while attempts to reach the crew by radio were unsuccessful.
He said the aircraft was later confirmed to have crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with the wreckage subsequently located.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Keyamo stated.
According to the minister, preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft, bringing the total number of people aboard to 32.
Keyamo said the aircraft was en route to Lagos when it disappeared from radar.
He, however, clarified that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority do not regulate or control military aircraft.
“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing,” he said.
The minister said further details about the crash would be released as more information becomes available.
