Nigeria Declares Three Days Mourning After Military Plane Crash

Nigeria has declared three days of mourning after a military aircraft carrying 32 people crashed in the southwestern state of Ondo, killing Air Force personnel on board.

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday near a naval base in Igbokoda after air traffic controllers lost contact with it shortly after take-off from Benin City, according to Nigerian officials.

Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo said the aircraft was travelling from Benin City to Lagos. The Nigerian Air Force said it was conducting a routine mission.

Preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed that Air Force personnel had died in the crash and declared three days of mourning in their honour. He also ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” Tinubu said in a statement.

The crash site was located in a swampy area near the naval base, making access difficult for rescuers. Local fishermen joined military and emergency responders in efforts to reach the wreckage.

Witnesses reported seeing parts of the aircraft and personal belongings around the crash site.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. The Nigerian Air Force has not released the names of those who died, saying their identities would be announced after their families had been contacted.

SOURCE: Anadolu Agency