CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Abuja. A major military aircraft accident occurred in Nigeria on Monday. A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in the Igbokoda area of southwestern Ondo State. A total of 32 people were on board, including 25 passengers and seven crew members. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the deaths of all 32 people.
According to information, the aircraft had departed from Benin City for Lagos on a routine mission. Contact with the aircraft was lost at around 9 a.m. during the flight. The wreckage was later found near a naval base in Igbokoda. According to initial reports, the aircraft came down near a river and some parts of the wreckage were found in the water.
After the crash, the Nigerian Air Force and other emergency agencies launched a search and rescue operation. Local residents saw aircraft debris and other remains around the crash site. President Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and ordered a thorough investigation into the accident. Following the crash, the Nigerian government has announced three days of national mourning in honour of the air force personnel. Officials said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash. The identities of the dead will be released after their families have been informed.
Hashtags: #Nigeria #MilitaryAircraftCrash #NigerianAirForce #OndoState #Igbokoda #BolaTinubu #ATR42 #BeninCity #Lagos #NationalMourning
