The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development ,Festus Keyamo has disclosed that following information received from Air Traffic Controllers about the disappearance of an aircraft, a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route from Benin to Lagos, has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, with 32 people reportedly on board.
The Minister made this known in a statement .He said the aircraft, which departed Benin for Lagos, was reported missing at about 9:13 a.m. after efforts to establish contact with it through radio proved unsuccessful.
“The aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing.”
According to the minister, preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the military aircraft.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board.”
The minister said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation and assistance in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
“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 added that further information on the incident would be made available as the situation develops.
“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently.”
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo, has said the Authority is ready to provide technical expertise and assistance to support the ongoing search and rescue operation.
“The NCAA remains committed to supporting the national response to this incident,” he said.
According to him, although military aviation operations fall outside the NCAA’s regulatory and operational mandate, the Authority would cooperate with relevant authorities and agencies in line with established national emergency response protocols.
“The NCAA stands ready to provide such technical expertise and assistance as may be required to support the ongoing search and rescue operations,” Najomo said.
Najomo said the NCAA said is closely monitoring developments surrounding the crash and would continue to work with relevant authorities as the rescue efforts progress.
He also expressed solidarity with the Nigeria Air Force and other persons directly affected by the incident, while praying for the safety and successful rescue of those involved.
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