Nigeria mourns 32 killed in military plane crash
Nigeria is mourning the loss of 32 people after a military aircraft crashed into a swamp in southern Ondo State on Monday morning. President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to fly at half-mast across the country. The plane was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it came down near a naval base.
Investigation and response
The aircraft, an ATR-42, was found submerged under water, according to officials. A resident told the BBC that clothes and shoes were discovered at the site, and smoke was seen rising from the area. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said he was informed of the disappearance of the aircraft with tail number NGR 931, which was en route to Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours. Efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive before the crash was confirmed near Igbokoda.
President Tinubu offered his deepest condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and 7 crew members. “This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” he said. He also ordered the Air Force to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the cause to prevent similar incidents. “Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Tinubu added.
The Nigerian Air Force has released the names of those killed, most of whom were military personnel. This is the deadliest crash involving a Nigerian military aircraft since 1992. The Air Force plays a key role in tackling armed groups and insecurity in several parts of the country. In May 2021, Nigeria’s army chief and 10 other officers died in a plane crash in Kaduna State, and in February of that year, seven people died when a military plane crashed short of the runway in Abuja.
