Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning for Air Force Personnel Killed in Aircraft Crash

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning for Air Force personnel who died in an aircraft crash in Ondo State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning for Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in a military aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday, October 5, 2026.

The President also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for the deceased officers.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, which was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area while travelling from Benin to Lagos.

In a condolence message to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, Tinubu described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the country.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the President said.

Tinubu said he had been briefed by the Chief of Air Staff and directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.

He said the investigation should help prevent similar incidents in the future.

The President also commended the Nigerian Air Force for activating search and rescue operations following the crash.

The State House said the identities of the deceased personnel would be released by the Air Force after their families had been contacted.

The statement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on October 5, 2026.

Military Aircraft Crashes in Ondo, 32 People Reportedly on Board

A military aircraft travelling from Benin to Lagos has crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft on Monday morning.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the incident in a statement, saying air traffic controllers had earlier reported the disappearance of the aircraft with tail number NGR 931.

According to Keyamo, the aircraft was en route to Lagos from Benin when contact was lost at about 9:13 a.m.

“All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” the minister said.

He added that subsequent information confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, with the wreckage located as search and rescue operations continued.

Preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board, bringing the reported number of people aboard the aircraft to 32.

Keyamo said the regulation and control of military aircraft fall outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Despite this, he said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s full cooperation and assistance with the ongoing search and rescue operation.

The minister said further information on the incident would be released as it becomes available.