Nigeria mourns 32 dead after military plane crashes into swamp
President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning after a military aircraft, an ATR‑42, crashed in southern Ondo State, killing 32 people.
The aircraft was on a routine journey from Benin City to Lagos when it disappeared over a swamp near a naval base on Monday morning. Investigators later found the plane submerged beneath the water surface.
A resident reported finding clothes, shoes, and smoke rising from the area where the wreckage lay.
Tinubu offered his deepest condolences for the 25 passengers and seven crew members on board and ordered a full investigation into the incident.
He also commanded national flags to be flown at half‑mast across the country as a mark of respect for those who died.
"This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation," Tinubu said. "Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," he added.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed the disappearance of the military aircraft with tail number NGR 931 en route to Lagos at 09:13 hours. He noted that attempts to contact the aircraft had failed before the crash was confirmed near Igbokoda, Ondo State.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing while the Nigerian Air Force has released the names of those killed, most of whom were military personnel.
The incident represents one of the deadliest air disasters in Nigeria in recent years, following similar crashes in 2021 that took the lives of key military leaders.
