2026 Nigerian Air Force ATR 42 crash
2026 military aviation accident in Nigeria
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On 5 October 2026, an ATR 42 operated by the 81st Air Maritime Group of the Nigerian Air Force crashed near Igbokoda, Ondo State, Nigeria, during a routine domestic flight from Benin Airport, Edo State, to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State. All 25 people on board were killed.[1] The crash is the deadliest in Nigeria since the 2012 crash of Dana Air Flight 0992.[2]
- Near Igbokoda, Ondo State, Nigeria
NAF931, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2024 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 5 October 2026 |
| Summary | Crashed en route, under investigation |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | ATR 42–500 (512MP Surveyor) |
| Operator | Nigerian Air Force |
| Registration | NAF931 |
| Flight origin | Benin Airport, Edo State, Nigeria |
| Destination | Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Occupants | 25 |
| Passengers | 20 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 25 |
| Survivors | 0 |
Background
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was an 18 year-old ATR 42–500 with twin turboprop engines. The aircraft was registered as NAF 931; one of two ATR-42 500 operated by the Nigerian Air Force 81st Air Maritime Group based in Benin City.[3] It was procured in March 2010 from Alenia Aeronautica and was configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activities and maritime patrol.[4] In 2022, it was sent to the Rheinland Air Service facility in Monchengladbach, Germany for a major maintenance and upgrade.[5] The aircraft has previously been deployed in counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria.[3]
Occupants
The aircraft was carrying 25 people, five crew members and 20 passengers. 19 of the occupants were military personnel.[6]
Accident
The aircraft crashed near a naval base in Igbokoda while en route to Lagos. The aircraft lost radar contact with air traffic controllers at 9:13 local time.[7] Residents reported hearing a very loud explosion.[8] Local residents reported seeing the aircraft enter a dive, before impacting trees and crashing into the water. The plane was completely destroyed on impact, and the wreckage later sunk.[9][10]
Search and rescue
As of 5 October, search and rescue operations are still ongoing, with the wreckage having been located.[11] The operations are made more difficult by the swamp present in the area, with rescuers forced to reach the crash site by canoe.[12] Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said that no sign of survivors has been found yet.[13] Initially 32 fatalities were being reported, but the death toll was later lowered to 25 as the Nigerian Air Force released more information.[6] A day after the crash, on October 6, an amphibious excavator was deployed to the accident site to assist with recovery operations.[14] Sonar equipment was also deployed to scan the riverbed at the crash site. On October 9 the Nigerian Air Force commenced operations to recover the aircraft flight recorders.[15]
Reactions
Nigerian president Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and stated that the Nigerian Air Force will start an investigation into the accident.[2] He also declared three days of national mourning with flags at half-mast across the country.[16]
