A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane crashed in Ondo state, killing at least 32 people, including military personnel and their family members. The incident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, near the Naval Base at Igbokoda, in the Ilaje Local Government Area. The aircraft, an ATR-42, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
The crash happened when the plane struck a swamp. The NAF confirmed the accident in a statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information. The statement clarified that the aircraft was not a helicopter, as initially reported. The crash site is located near the Naval Base, which is a key military installation in the region.
This is the second major aviation incident involving the NAF in Ondo state this year. In March 2026, a military helicopter crashed in the same area, killing 18 people. The current crash has raised concerns about aviation safety and the operational conditions of military aircraft in the region. The NAF has not yet released details about the cause of the crash or the condition of the survivors. Investigations are ongoing.
