UPDATED: Military aircraft crashed near Ondo naval base, 32 on board – Keyamo

Military aircraft crashed near the Ondo naval base, resulting in a loss of 32 lives, according to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The plane, with tail number NGR 931, vanished from radar screens while en route from Benin to Lagos at 9:13 am on Monday. Air traffic controllers reported losing contact with the aircraft, and their attempts to establish radio contact proved unsuccessful.

The wreckage of the aircraft was subsequently located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, and search and rescue operations are currently underway. Preliminary reports indicate that the plane carried 25 passengers and seven crew members, though the exact number of fatalities remains unknown at this stage. Keyamo emphasized that while commercial aircraft are regulated by the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, military aircraft fall under a different jurisdiction, and his ministry has pledged cooperation with the Chief of Air Staff in the ongoing rescue efforts.