Keyamo Confirms 32 Onboard Military Aircraft Crash in Ondo

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has verified that a military plane went down in Igbokoda, Ondo State, following its loss from radar while traveling from Benin to Lagos. In a released statement, the Minister reported that 32 individuals were on board. The aircraft vanished around 9:13 a.m. after air traffic controllers could no longer communicate with it. Rescue efforts are continuing, he said. Keyamo stated that he was sorry to tell the public that air traffic controllers had notified him that a military aircraft bearing tail number NGR 931 disappeared at 0913 hours that day while on a flight from Benin to Lagos. Every attempt to reach the plane by radio failed, he said. Later information, however, established that the military aircraft had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, according to the Minister. The wreckage was found and search and rescue operations are proceeding. Initial details indicate that the flight carried 25 passengers and seven crew members, Keyamo said. He also noted that military aircraft control and regulation fall entirely outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority. He said he had just spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and promised full cooperation and support for the ongoing search and rescue mission.