Tinubu declares three-day national mourning after Ondo military aircraft crash

President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State.

The President also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of personnel who died in the accident.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed near the naval base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, on Monday while travelling from Benin City to Lagos on what authorities described as a routine mission.

Tinubu said the incident was a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the country and directed the Nigerian Air Force to begin an immediate investigation into the cause of the crash.

He also commended military personnel, emergency responders and the Ondo State Government for their response after the aircraft disappeared from radar.

No survivors found

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said rescuers searching the crash site had not found anyone alive.

The governor said local residents, emergency officials, Amotekun personnel and security agencies joined the rescue operation around the swampy crash site.

Searchers reportedly recovered parts of the aircraft, identification cards and uniforms from the area.

Subsequent international reporting said there were no survivors.

Reuters reported that all 32 people believed to have been aboard died in the crash.

Authorities investigate cause of crash

The Nigerian Air Force and Defence Ministry have ordered investigations into the incident.

Defence Minister Christopher Musa said the investigation would seek to establish what caused the accident and determine whether additional safety measures were required across military aviation operations.

The Presidency said the names of the deceased personnel would be made public after their families had been contacted.

The cause of the crash has not yet been officially established.

Aiyedatiwa has suggested that a technical or mechanical issue may have been involved, but that remains preliminary and should not be presented as the confirmed cause while the investigation continues.

Important discrepancy over number on board

There is currently a discrepancy in official/public reporting about the number of people aboard.

The Presidency and Aviation Ministry said preliminary information indicated 25 passengers and seven crew members — 32 people in total.

However, AP subsequently reported that Nigerian Air Force officials gave a different figure of 20 passengers and five crew members — 25 people. The discrepancy had not been publicly reconciled in that report.

For BodexNG, I recommend not putting a casualty number in the headline until the Air Force issues a definitive manifest.