DHQ Mourns Fallen Personnel, Probes NAF ATR-42 Crash

DHQ Mourns Fallen Personnel, Probes NAF ATR-42 Crash

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has mourned personnel involved in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft crash near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The military authorities also said an investigation had commenced to determine the cause of the accident, while search and rescue operations continued at the crash site.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday following the crash of the aircraft, which was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.

According to him, the aircraft had military personnel and some members of their families on board.

“The Defence Headquarters has received with deep shock the news of the unfortunate crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State,” Uba said.

He extended the condolences of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the families and loved ones of those involved in the crash, as well as the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the NAF and the wider Armed Forces community.

“This is indeed a painful loss to the entire Armed Forces and the nation at large. Our personnel give their all daily to keep Nigeria safe. Their courage and sacrifices will never be forgotten,” he said.

Uba said, in compliance with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an investigation would be conducted to establish the cause of the accident.

He added that search and rescue operations by the NAF, in collaboration with sister Services and emergency response agencies, were still ongoing at the site.

Earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, at about 9:13 a.m. while it was en route from Benin to Lagos.

Keyamo said efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive before information later confirmed that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

He said the wreckage had been located and that preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board.

The NAF, in a separate statement signed by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the accident and said it had activated an immediate search and rescue operation.

The Air Force said the ATR-42 aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

Uba appealed to members of the public to refrain from speculation and respect the privacy of the affected families while official procedures were ongoing.

He assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would remain committed to its constitutional responsibility of securing the country despite the setback.

“The sacrifice of our fallen heroes will continue to inspire our service to the nation,” he said.