Rabat – An aircraft operated by the Nigerian Air Force crashed Monday in southern Nigeria with 32 people on board, according to Nigerian authorities.
The ATR-42 went down near Igbokoda in Ondo State during a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos, the Air Force said. The aircraft carried 25 passengers and seven crew members.
President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of those on board and ordered an investigation into the cause of the crash.
“The president extends his deepest condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members involved,” his office said in a statement.
Tinubu also called for prayers for the victims and their relatives, as well as for the Nigerian Air Force, which faces the task of determining what caused the accident.
The Air Force said it launched a search-and-rescue operation after the aircraft went down Monday morning. The wreckage was later located near the Igbokoda naval base, according to Nigeria’s aviation minister.
Video footage shared on social media showed crowds gathered near a river as rescue teams searched the area by boat.
Igbokoda lies in Ondo State, a major oil-producing area along Nigeria’s southern coast.
The ATR-42 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft designed for short regional routes. The model, produced by Franco-Italian manufacturer ATR, can carry around 50 passengers depending on its configuration.
Authorities have yet to release further details about possible casualties or the circumstances that led to the crash.
