The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said a thorough investigation is ongoing into the crash of its ATR-42 aircraft in Ondo State, following allegations by the brother of a deceased female sergeant that the aircraft had developed a mechanical fault before the fatal flight.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, gave the response to SaharaReporters after a report published on Sunday.
THE ALLEGATION
The bereaved man accused the military of downplaying the circumstances surrounding the crash. He alleged that his sister told him the aircraft had developed a technical problem and stopped in Benin City, Edo State, for repairs before proceeding with its journey.
“I have evidence that this aircraft was coming all the way from Abuja. It stopped in Benin on Sunday night so that it can be fixed,” he said.
“And it was unfixable because my sister told me on that call that she does not know what was wrong with this aircraft. I should just send her money, and I sent her money immediately.”
He questioned why the aircraft was allowed to continue its journey if the reported technical problem had not been adequately resolved.
“Who gave that command for them to manage the aircraft to Lagos?” he asked.
THE AIR FORCE RESPONSE
Ejodame said the issues raised would form part of the ongoing investigation. “A thorough investigation into the accident is ongoing. The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the issues raised, will be examined as part of the investigative process,” he said.
“Further information will be communicated as appropriate, while conclusions on the circumstances and causes of the accident will be guided by the findings of the investigation.”
The Air Force did not directly confirm or deny the specific allegation that the aircraft had developed a mechanical fault before departing Benin City.
THE BACKSTORY: WHAT WE KNOW
The crash occurred on October 5, 2026, when the NAF ATR-42 aircraft, marked NAF 931, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
All 25 people on board, five crew members and 20 passengers, died.
An earlier ValidViewNetwork reported that the aircraft had developed an engine fault in Benin City on Sunday, October 4, a day before it crashed.
Multiple sources, including a passenger aboard the aircraft, said the plane had been travelling from Abuja to Lagos when it developed an engine problem during a stop in Benin City.
The sources said technicians worked on the aircraft overnight before it departed for Lagos on Monday morning. The aircraft took off after engineers reportedly said they had rectified the fault, but crashed minutes after departure.
ValidViewNetwork also reported that the aircraft had previously undergone prolonged maintenance at a facility in Germany, where it reportedly remained for almost three years before returning to Nigeria in December 2024.
The Air Force had described the ill-fated flight as a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
THE AIR CHIEF’S ASSURANCE
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has said the investigation would involve 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 Air Force personnel.
“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,” Aneke said.
He described the deceased crew members as “highly trained, professional and intelligent officers,” saying their sacrifice in the service of the country must be honoured.
“The best we can do is to honour the sacrifice they have put in,” he said.
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Aneke urged the public to resist the temptation to draw conclusions about the crash before the investigation was completed.
“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,” he said.
THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN
The allegations have raised further questions about the aircraft’s condition before its final flight, the nature of any repairs carried out in Benin City, and the decision to allow it to continue its journey.
The Air Force has said the accident site remained secured, while recovered items and other relevant evidence were being documented and preserved to support the investigation.
For the families of the 25 victims, the investigation is not merely a technical exercise.
It is the only path to understanding what happened and, potentially, to accountability.
ValidViewNetwork reports that the NAF has pledged transparency and said conclusions will be guided by the findings of the investigation.
