MINISTER of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has confirmed the crash of a military aircraft carrying 32 people in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, was travelling from Benin to Lagos when it disappeared at about 9:13 a.m., prompting an alert from air traffic controllers.
Keyamo, in a statement, said attempts by air traffic controllers to establish radio contact with the aircraft failed, after which authorities were alerted and efforts intensified to determine its whereabouts.
He said subsequent information confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with the wreckage already located.
According to the minister, search and rescue operations were ongoing at the scene as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” Keyamo said.
The minister, however, clarified that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, over the incident and assured the Nigerian Air Force of the ministry’s “total cooperation and assistance” in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Keyamo said further details on the unfortunate incident would be released as more information becomes available.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently,” he added.
