NAF aircraft crashes with more than 30 onboard in Ondo

Harry Archie October 5, 2026

Nigerian authorities reported this Monday that a military plane with more than 30 occupants, which had taken off from Benin, crashed near the naval base of Igbokoda, in the southeast of the African country.

In a confirmation post on his social media page, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said, “the military plane ‘NGR 931’ crashed near the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda, in the state of Ondo. Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board.

Keyamo also specified that “the wreckage of the aircraft has already been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing” with the aim of finding the 25 passengers and seven crew members who, according to initial data, were on board the aircraft.

The aircraft was covering the route between Benin and the Nigerian city of Lagos when, at 9:13 a.m. (local time) this Monday, its trace was lost.

“All attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft have been unsuccessful,” the minister noted, expressing his “full cooperation and assistance” to the Armed Forces in light of this “unfortunate incident.”

The minister further clarified that the control and regulation of military aircraft are outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He, however, said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s “total cooperation and assistance” in the ongoing search and rescue operation.

“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently,” he added.