A total of 32 people were on board a military aircraft that crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed.
The aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it went down in the coastal community, according to the minister.
Keyamo, in a statement issued on Monday, said the incident was reported after air traffic controllers lost communication with the aircraft and repeated attempts to re-establish contact with the crew proved unsuccessful.
He said authorities subsequently received confirmation that the aircraft had crashed in the vicinity of the Naval Base, while the wreckage was later located.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” Keyamo said.
The minister said search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate and assist those aboard the aircraft.
He added that he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, following the incident, assuring that the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development would provide its full cooperation to the ongoing rescue efforts.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the military and was conducting a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed.
The incident triggered panic in Igbokoda after the aircraft came down close to the naval facility.
The aircraft was reportedly configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, as well as air maritime operations.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not disclosed the condition of the 32 people aboard or confirmed whether the crash resulted in fatalities.
Keyamo said further information would be made public as details emerge from the ongoing search and rescue operation.
