The President also ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast across Nigeria in honour of the victims.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, on Monday, October 5, while flying from Benin to Lagos on what authorities described as a routine mission.
The aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members. President Tinubu’s statement confirmed the deaths, while Reuters reported that there were no survivors.
The development is an update to the initial reports published after air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13am on Monday.
At the time, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo said the aircraft had disappeared from radio communication and that attempts to contact it had failed.
He later confirmed that the wreckage had been located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
What happened to the aircraft?
The aircraft, identified by the tail number NGR 931, was travelling from Benin in Edo State to Lagos when communication with air traffic controllers was lost.
Keyamo said preliminary information showed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard.
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 later added:
“Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing.”
The Nigerian Air Force also confirmed that the aircraft was an ATR-42 and said it had activated a search-and-rescue operation in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
Tinubu orders investigation
President Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Air Force to investigate what caused the crash.
He said the investigation should help prevent similar incidents in the future.
“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,” President Tinubu said.
He added:
“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.”
The President also said:
“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident.”
He commended first responders and the Ondo State Government for their response at the crash site.
Also Read: Helicopter Crash in Igbokoda, Ondo: Several Feared Dead https://olokunsmedianetwork.com/2026/10/05/helicopter-crash-in-igbokoda-ondo-several-feared-dead/
Why the investigation matters
The investigation will be important in establishing whether mechanical failure, human factors, weather, maintenance, operational conditions or another factor contributed to the crash.
It will also determine whether safety recommendations are needed for future Nigerian Air Force operations.
There is precedent for detailed investigations following military aircraft accidents.
In 2021, the Nigerian Air Force and the then Accident Investigation Bureau conducted a joint investigation into a NAF King Air 350 crash in Kaduna. The interim report produced 27 initial findings and eight immediate safety recommendations.
The NAF has also previously said that safety management remains a priority because of the technical and complex nature of military aviation operations.
The outcome of the new investigation will therefore face scrutiny beyond the immediate question of what caused Monday’s crash. Families of those who died and the wider public will want to know whether any preventable factors were involved.
What is known about the victims?
The Presidency said the Air Force would release the names of the deceased officers after their families had been contacted.
That process matters because early casualty reports can contain errors before next of kin are formally notified.
Reports published after the crash have also indicated that not everyone aboard may have been military personnel. Vanguard reported that the aircraft carried military personnel, family members and crew, although the identities and official breakdown of those aboard had not been released by the Presidency at the time of its report.
Olokuns Media Network will therefore not publish unverified names or identities until they are formally confirmed by the relevant authorities.
What happens next?
The three-day mourning period and half-mast order provide the immediate national response to the deaths.
The more consequential next step will be the investigation into the accident.
The Air Force is expected to provide further information about the victims, the recovery operation and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The investigation should also establish a factual record that can guide any safety changes arising from the tragedy.
For families who have lost relatives and for the Nigerian Air Force, however, the immediate priority remains the identification and dignified handling of the victims and support for their next of kin.
The crash has ended the uncertainty that followed the aircraft’s disappearance on Monday. The focus now shifts to establishing exactly what happened and whether lessons from the tragedy can prevent another loss of life.
