NAF Aircraft Crash in Ondo: Keyamo Offers Rescue Support as Aiyedatiwa Points to Possible Technical Fault
Aiyedatiwa Raises Possible Mechanical Fault
The Federal Government has offered support for the search and rescue operation following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa suggested that a possible technical or mechanical problem may have contributed to the incident.
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The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, identified by its tail number as NGR 931, was travelling from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday.
The aircraft was subsequently located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, where search and rescue operations were activated. Preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board.
Aviation Ministry Pledges Support for Rescue Operation
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the crash and said the ministry was ready to assist the Nigerian Air Force with the rescue operation.
Keyamo said air traffic controllers had attempted to establish contact with the aircraft after it disappeared from communication, but their efforts were unsuccessful before information confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
Although military aviation falls outside the regulatory authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Keyamo said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation and assistance.
The minister said further information would be released as it became available.
Aiyedatiwa Points to Possible Technical or Mechanical Problem
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has suggested that the aircraft may have developed a technical or mechanical fault while in flight, potentially leading to the loss of communication with the control tower.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today shortly after the incident, Aiyedatiwa said the circumstances did not immediately point to adverse weather as the likely cause.
He said the aircraft could have developed a problem after take-off, resulting in the loss of its signal before the crash.
However, the governor’s comments remain preliminary and do not constitute an official determination of the cause of the accident. The circumstances surrounding the crash will need to be established through the appropriate investigation.
32 People Were on Board
According to preliminary information released by the Federal Government, the aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the aircraft was an ATR-42 conducting a routine flight from Benin to Lagos.
Authorities initially focused on locating the aircraft after communication was lost. Its wreckage was later found near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, prompting the activation of search and rescue operations involving relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
At the time of Aiyedatiwa’s comments, authorities had not released confirmed information on the condition of those on board.
NSIB Offers Technical Assistance
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has also offered to provide technical assistance if formally requested by the Nigerian Air Force.
The bureau said its support could include deploying investigators and using its Flight Safety Laboratory to recover, read and analyse flight recorder data.
However, the NSIB clarified that because the aircraft was operated by the military, investigative responsibility rests with the Nigerian Air Force.
Flight recorder information could become important in determining the aircraft’s condition and operational circumstances before the crash, particularly if investigators establish that a technical problem played a role.
Investigation Expected to Establish Cause
The cause of the crash has not been officially established.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Air Force to commence a thorough investigation into the accident, with the aim of determining what caused the crash and preventing similar incidents in the future.
The investigation will therefore be critical in determining whether mechanical failure, operational circumstances, weather, human factors or another issue contributed to the accident.
Until investigators complete their work, authorities have urged the public to rely on official information and avoid unverified reports surrounding the incident.
Rescue Efforts and Investigation Continue
The crash has triggered a coordinated response involving the Nigerian Air Force, Ondo State Government, aviation authorities and other emergency agencies.
The Aviation Ministry and NSIB have indicated their willingness to provide support within their respective mandates, while the Nigerian Air Force remains responsible for the military aircraft and the investigation into the accident.
Further details are expected as rescue operations progress and investigators gather evidence from the crash site.
The incident underscores the importance of effective coordination between military, aviation and emergency-response agencies in managing aircraft accidents and establishing their causes.
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