Nigerian authorities have initiated a comprehensive search-and-rescue operation following the crash of a military aircraft carrying 32 people in Ondo state, located in the country’s southwestern region.

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed that the wreckage of the aircraft was spotted near a naval base in Igbokoda. The plane vanished while traveling on a flight path from Benin to Lagos. Keyamo stated via social media that preliminary manifests indicate there were 25 passengers and seven crew members on board at the time of the incident.

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 09:13 local time (08:13 GMT). Subsequent attempts by ground controllers to re-establish radio contact with the cockpit proved unsuccessful.

According to the Nigerian Air Force, the aircraft involved was an ATR-42 carrying out a routine flight to Lagos. Emergency teams and rescue personnel have been deployed to the crash site to secure the area and assess the situation. While the Aviation Ministry has pledged full assistance to the military leadership, authorities have not yet confirmed any casualties, and the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Source: www.aljazeera.com