The Federal Government has confirmed that 32 people were aboard the military aircraft that crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement, saying Air Traffic Controllers first reported that the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, had disappeared while flying from Benin to Lagos.
Keyamo said the aircraft disappeared from radar at about 9:13am after attempts to contact its crew by radio failed.
He said, “I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.”
He added that the wreckage had been found and search and rescue operations were ongoing.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board.”
Keyamo said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s support for the rescue operation. Further details, he said, would be released later.
