Tinubu Declares 3-Day Mourning as 32 Die in NAF Crash

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day period of national mourning for the 32 Nigerian Air Force personnel killed when a military aircraft crashed in Ondo State on Monday, October 5, 2026.

The President also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country throughout the mourning period as a mark of respect for the fallen officers and airmen.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine mission from Benin City in Edo State to Lagos when it crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. The plane was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members. Military sources confirmed that all 32 people on board perished in the accident.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, describing it as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the entire nation.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the President said in a condolence message to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.

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Tinubu said the Chief of Air Staff had briefed him on the incident and directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent a recurrence.

He also commended the Air Force for promptly activating a search-and-rescue operation following the accident. The Air Force will release the names of the deceased personnel after their families have been notified.

The crash ranks among Nigeria’s worst military aviation disasters in recent years. The aircraft, a twin-engine turboprop used for transport and surveillance missions, went down in a swampy area near the naval base, complicating recovery efforts. The wreckage was located, and emergency responders, including naval personnel, worked through difficult terrain to recover the victims.

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed the details of the flight and the number of people on board, while noting that military aircraft fall outside the regulatory purview of the civil aviation authorities. He pledged the ministry’s full cooperation with the ongoing efforts.

The three-day mourning period and the directive for flags to fly at half-mast underscore the gravity of the loss to the Nigerian Armed Forces and the nation.