Military Aircraft Crash: 25 Passengers, 7 Crew Members Aboard — Keyamo
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the military aircraft that crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The aircraft, operated by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), was reportedly travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it disappeared from radar and later crashed on Monday.
Keyamo said air traffic controllers initially alerted him after attempts to establish radio communication with the aircraft failed.
According to the minister, the wreckage was subsequently located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with search and rescue operations immediately launched.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” Keyamo said in a statement shared on X.
He noted that although the regulation and control of military aircraft fall outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s full support for the ongoing rescue efforts.
Keyamo said further details would be released as more information becomes available.
The crash reportedly caused panic among residents of the coastal community, while the aircraft involved was said to be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as air maritime operations.
