Breaking: Aviation Minister confirms 32 aboard crashed military plane

A military aircraft carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed.

The crash occurred on Monday morning, triggering panic among residents of the coastal community.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the military and was travelling from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when it disappeared from radar and radio communication.

Keyamo, in a statement posted on X, said aviation authorities were alerted after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft.

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“All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” the minister said.

He added that subsequent information confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with the wreckage located and search-and-rescue operations immediately activated.

“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board,” Keyamo said.

The minister stressed that the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had no regulatory control over military aircraft.

He, however, said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s full cooperation in ongoing rescue efforts.

“Whilst the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and Civil Aviation Authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing,” he said.

Further details on the condition of those aboard the aircraft were not immediately available as rescue operations continued.

The aircraft is reportedly configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions as well as air maritime operations.

Authorities are expected to provide further updates on the crash, including the identities and condition of those on board, as search-and-rescue operations progress.