Ondo Plane Crash: Wreckage Pulled From Swamp as Search Teams Scour Site for Victims
Emergency responders have extracted fragments of a crashed Nigerian Air Force aircraft from the deep, swampy waters of Igbokoda in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The operation comes two days after the tragic accident involving 25 passengers and 7 crew members.
Heavy machinery, including excavators, has been deployed to the dense riverine terrain to pull pieces of the skeletal airframe from the thick mud. While recovery teams achieved some breakthrough on Wednesday by pulling up fragmented parts, the main body of the aircraft remains submerged and has not yet been visually sighted.
Governor Commends Heroic Pilot, Calls Incident a ‘National Tragedy’
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited the crash site near the Igbokoda Naval Base to assess the ongoing search and rescue efforts. He praised the bravery of the pilot, stating that a major catastrophe was averted by the pilot’s final maneuver, which steered the failing aircraft away from residential homes.
The plane ultimately came down roughly 200 metres outside the community before plunging into the swamp. Governor Aiyedatiwa described the event as a “national tragedy” and confirmed that no survivors had been found at the scene as of his visit. He noted that approximately 32 people on board are feared dead.
Flight Details and Ongoing Investigation
The military aircraft (tail number NGR 931) was on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos when it lost contact with air traffic control at approximately 9:13 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.
According to eyewitness accounts gathered from local residents, the aircraft appeared to lose altitude rapidly while making an unusual sputtering sound, suggesting potential engine distress right before the impact.
President Bola Tinubu has already ordered a comprehensive probe into the incident to establish the exact cause of the crash.
Security forces, including the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police, have cordoned off the crash site to secure the area as joint teams continue to recover debris and human remains from the thick swamp.
