BREAKING: FG confirms 32 onboard crashed military aircraft in Ondo

The Federal Government has confirmed that 32 people were on board a military aircraft that crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Keyamo said Air Traffic Controllers had earlier reported the disappearance of the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, while it was flying from Benin to Lagos.

He said the aircraft disappeared from radar at about 9:13am after efforts to establish radio communication with the crew proved unsuccessful.

The minister said information later confirmed that the aircraft had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with the wreckage subsequently located.

“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board,” Keyamo said.

He added that search and rescue operations were ongoing.

Keyamo said although the control and regulation of military aircraft were outside the authority 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 cooperation in the rescue efforts.

He said further information on the incident would be made available as it emerged.