FG confirms military aircraft crash in Ondo, says 25 passengers, 7 crew members on board

The Federal Government has confirmed the crash of a military aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement, disclosed that the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, disappeared while en route from Benin to Lagos at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Keyami said air traffic controllers lost communication with the aircraft after repeated attempts to reach the crew through radio failed.

Keyamo said subsequent information confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, where the wreckage was located.

“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” he said.

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The minister noted that although military aviation operations are outside the jurisdiction of his ministry and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, he had contacted the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, to offer the government’s support.

Keyamo assured that the Ministry of Aviation would provide necessary assistance to the military authorities in the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

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