The Nigerian military aircraft named NAF 931 crashed during a routine mission towards Lagos, killing all 25 occupants. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) stated that the occupants included 5 crew members and 20 passengers.
Details of the crash and reactions
According to Nigeria's Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, the aircraft disappeared from radar around 9 AM local time (7:00 AM GMT) and was later found to have crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State. Keyamo also mentioned that the wreckage of the plane was discovered near a naval base.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the victims' families and conveyed his deepest sympathies. The Nigerian Air Force quickly initiated search and rescue operations, and videos of rescue teams searching around a river were released.
Local testimonies and more information
Meanwhile, some local residents told news agencies that human remains, clothing, and shoes were found at the crash site. One resident stated, "The plane broke several trees, and we found some body parts." This incident, despite the initial announcement by the Minister of Aviation regarding 32 victims, was confirmed by the Air Force to be 25.
The Nigerian Air Force has announced that the aircraft type was ATR-42, and investigations are underway due to this incident.
