By LENGNAN TOBIAS

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated immediate search and rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Sunday.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Ejodame said the aircraft was on routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

He said search and rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies were ongoing.

“The NAF is committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing search and rescue efforts. Further details will be communicated in due course,” he said.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, also confirmed the incident.

Keyamo in a statement by the ministry on Monday, said the aircraft with tail number NGR 931 disappeared at about 9:13 a.m., after air traffic controllers lost contact with it en route Lagos from Benin.

“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, en route Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today.

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

The minister said the aircraft was subsequently confirmed to have crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, adding that the wreckage had been located while search and rescue operations were ongoing.

Keyamo said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.

He noted that the ministry and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had no control over or regulatory authority over military aircraft.

“While the control and regulation of military aircraft are completely outside the authority of the ministry and the civil aviation authority, I have just spoken to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and pledged our total cooperation and assistance in the search and rescue efforts ongoing.

“Further information on this unfortunate incident will be made available subsequently,” he said. (NAN)

Update news