The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday, with 32 people on board. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it went down near the naval base in the riverine community, prompting immediate search-and-rescue operations with other emergency responders.
Authorities said the aircraft disappeared from radar at about 09:13 local time before the wreckage was located in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo identified those on board as 25 passengers and seven crew members. The air force clarified that the aircraft was an ATR-42, not a helicopter, after earlier reports created confusion over the type of aircraft involved.
No official casualty figure had been confirmed at the time of the reports, and rescue teams remained at the scene as authorities worked to establish the condition of those aboard. The crash has drawn particular attention because of the relatively large number of occupants on a military aircraft operating a domestic route between Benin and Lagos.