NAF Ondo crash: Large aircraft wreckage emerges from swamp [VIDEO]

In the aftermath of the Nigerian Air Force helicopter crash in Ondo State, substantial wreckage has been emerging from the surrounding riverine and swampy terrain where the aircraft tragically went down. A coordinated effort involving Navy divers, Air Force personnel, and emergency responders has been underway, utilizing specialized equipment such as swamp buggies and side-scan sonar to locate and recover the wreckage and remains of the aircraft.

A video from the ongoing recovery operation captured the moment large sections of the aircraft were brought ashore. The scene was surrounded by officials, military personnel, and local residents, all gathered in somber reflection of the tragic event. Earlier reports had indicated that on October 5, 2026, a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, bearing the tail number NAF 931/NGR 931, had crashed in a challenging swampy and riverine area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, located within Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The aircraft, which was en route from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos, lost communication with air traffic controllers around 9:13 a.m. local time. The crash occurred in the difficult and treacherous mangrove and swamp terrain adjacent to the naval base. The fate of all 25 individuals on board was sealed in the incident – five crew members and 20 passengers, predominantly military personnel, perished in the crash.