Nigeria Declares Three‑Day National Mourning After Military Plane Crash Kills 32
The Nigerian Air Force lost an ATR‑42 aircraft in a tragic crash near the naval base of Igbokoda, Ondo State, Monday morning. All 32 souls aboard—including 25 military personnel and seven crew members—perished, plunging the nation into grief.
The aircraft was said to be on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when the incident occurred. It was found submerged in a swamp, while panicked witnesses reported rising smoke and the sight of personal effects such as clothes and shoes dislodging from the water.
President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to fly at half‑mast across the country as a mark of respect. He called the tragedy a painful moment for the armed forces and for the nation, vowing a thorough investigation into the cause of the mishap.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed that the aircraft—identified by tail number NGR 931—had gone missing on the route to Lagos at 0913 hours, and urged federal agencies to help locate the wreckage. Search and rescue operations are underway, with the military demanding honest accountability.
The aircraft, an ATR‑42, has a passenger capacity of 30–50 and has previously served in numerous support missions. The loss of a large contingent of military personnel during flight operations adds to a spate of high‑profile aviation accidents in Nigeria: from the 2021 crash that killed army chief Lt‑Gen Ibrahim Attahiru to the 2022 incident that took seven lives in Abuja.
The Nigerian Air Force has released names of the deceased, underscoring the fact that most aboard were active service members. The investigation will address technical failures, pilot training, and flight data recordings in hopes of preventing future tragedies.
As the nation mourns, international observers urge Nigeria to strengthen aviation oversight and equip its military fleet with modern safety protocols.
