The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will hold a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony on November 26 in honour of the 25 people who died in the October 5 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The ceremony will take place at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, allowing bereaved families, colleagues, friends and members of the Air Force community to pay their last respects.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
He said the event would provide an opportunity to “honour the memories of the departed and recognise their service and sacrifice”.
The Air Force also confirmed that it had recovered the aircraft’s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), alongside other wreckage and relevant evidence, from the crash site.
According to the statement, data retrieved from the recorder is being analysed and is expected to assist the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“The investigation is progressing steadily in collaboration with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),” the statement said.
The NAF disclosed that recovery operations had yielded several human remains and aircraft fragments, while efforts to identify the recovered remains were continuing.
It attributed the difficulty of the operation to the swampy nature of the crash site and the depth at which some aircraft fragments had penetrated the ground.
The Service also said it was working with relevant agencies to address environmental concerns arising from the recovery exercise and ensure appropriate remediation after the operation.
“The NAF remains committed to ensuring that the investigation is conducted in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, accountability and responsibility,” the statement added.
The Air Force reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the victims’ families and appreciated the cooperation of relevant agencies, host communities and other stakeholders involved in the recovery and investigation efforts.
The aircraft, an ATR-42 with registration number NAF 931, crashed in a swampy area near Igbokoda, a coastal town in Ondo State, on October 5, 2026.
The aircraft was on a flight from Benin City to Lagos when the accident occurred.
It had 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The Air Force later confirmed that there were no survivors.
Following the crash, President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered an investigation into the incident.
The NAF subsequently constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to establish the circumstances and possible causes of the crash.