NAF Confirms ATR-42 Crash in Ondo, Rescue Operation Underway

The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that one of its ATR-42 aircraft crashed near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday, October 5, 2026.

The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. The NAF said it immediately activated search-and-rescue operations in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency-response agencies.

Wreckage Located, 32 Aboard

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 32 people were on board the aircraft—25 passengers and seven crew members.

According to the minister, the aircraft, registered as NGR 931, disappeared from tracking while travelling from Benin to Lagos at about 9:13 a.m. He said subsequent information confirmed that it crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda and that the wreckage had been located.

However, authorities had not publicly released the identities of those on board or confirmed their condition at the time of the latest reports.

Early Reports Caused Confusion

Initial accounts from the riverine community described the incident as a helicopter crash. The Ondo State Police Command confirmed an aircraft crash in the Igbokoda area but said full details were still emerging.legit+1

The NAF later clarified that the aircraft involved was an ATR-42, not a helicopter.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said:

“The Nigerian Air Force has activated an immediate search and rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026.”vanguardngr+1

Rescue Effort Continues

The crash reportedly occurred close to a naval facility in the Igbokoda area, where swampy and riverine terrain may complicate access.

Police, military personnel, emergency agencies and local responders have been mobilised, while the NAF says it remains focused on the success of the search-and-rescue effort.

The Air Force has not yet confirmed fatalities or survivors. Reports of deaths circulating online should therefore be treated as unconfirmed until authorities release an official casualty update.

Cause Not Yet Known

The cause of the crash has not been established.

Although some local accounts referred to rainfall around the time of the incident, this does not prove that weather was responsible. A formal safety investigation will be required to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the aircraft’s condition, flight path, weather and operational factors.

Nigeria’s Safety Investigation Bureau is the federal agency responsible for fact-finding aviation accident investigations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

Confirmed Information

Bottom Line

A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 travelling from Benin to Lagos has crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, with 32 people reported to have been on board.

The wreckage has been located and rescue operations are ongoing. Authorities have not yet confirmed the fate of the passengers and crew, so casualty claims remain provisional pending an official update.