The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has established a high-level panel to investigate the crash of its ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Sunday Aneke, disclosed this on Thursday during a visit to the crash site in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, where recovery operations were ongoing.
Aneke said the panel would comprise military and civilian aviation safety experts, including representatives of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), accident and emergency management authorities, retired senior military officers and experienced NAF personnel.
On Monday, a NAF ATR-42 aircraft with registration number NAF 931, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
The CAS said the investigation would determine the circumstances surrounding the accident, urging the public to refrain from speculation until the inquiry was completed.
“I had informed my superintendent of safety and evaluation to come up with a high-level delegation comprising both military and civilian safety experts, NSIB, accident and emergency management board, retired senior officers and experienced Air Force officers, to sit down and get to the bottom of what happened,” he said.
“This is not the time to start speculating, and I plead with you, the general public. We’ve lost people who are fighting for the nation.
“The best we can do for them is to be a little bit patient and let those who are the specialists get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Aneke said the Air Force would “leave no stone unturned” in determining the cause of the crash, adding that safety remained a priority for the service.
He described the victims as highly trained and professional officers, noting that he personally knew everyone aboard the aircraft.
“We in the Air Force, we leave no stone unturned. When it comes to safety, everything is ensured,” he said.
“I basically knew everyone on that flight. I’ve flown on this aeroplane. My family has flown on this aeroplane. I know each of the crew personally.”
The CAS described the incident as a “very big loss” to the military and the victims’ families.
He said the crash site, situated in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, had created difficulties for recovery teams due to thick mangroves, murky water and deep mud.
“The best we can do is to honour the sacrifice they have put on those on board this aeroplane,” he said.
Aneke also commended the Ondo State Government and residents of Igbokoda for supporting the recovery efforts, noting that local residents were among the first to respond after the aircraft went down.
He said the community’s response highlighted the importance of cooperation among government agencies, security forces and residents during emergencies.
“The locals here, the residents here, were the first responders. I’ve been briefed by the commander of the Naval here,” he said.
The CAS added that the Air Force was providing assistance to the families of the deceased.
“The Nigerian Air Force is putting everything possible to ensure that the families get the necessary support they need,” he said.
Recovery teams are continuing to search the swamp for the main wreckage and the remains of the victims. Efforts are also underway to retrieve aircraft components that could assist investigators in determining the cause of the crash.