Nigerian Military Aircraft Crashes Into Swamp, 32 Fatalities

Tue Oct 06 2026 13:28:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Nigerian Air Force ATR‑42 swept into a swamp near Ondo State, killing 32 people, including soldiers. President Tinubu calls for national mourning.

A commuter‑type ATR‑42 carrying 32 passengers and crew went down into a swamp near Igbokoda naval base in Ondo State, after leaving Benin City for Lagos. The wreckage floated on water and smoke drifted from the area, indicating an in‑air incident. President Bola Tinubu announced three days of national mourning and ordered a full investigation. The Air Force has since released the names of the deceased, most of whom were soldiers. This disaster joins a series of recent Nigerian air accidents that have claimed high‑ranking military personnel.

Nigerian Military Aircraft Crashes Into Swamp, 32 Fatalities

Remnants of a Nigerian military plane that crashed while carrying several passengers and crew members, in Ondo state

President Bola Tinubu declared a three‑day national mourning period after a Nigerian military aircraft crashed in a swamp in southern Ondo State, killing 32 people.

The aircraft, an ATR‑42 on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos, plunged into a swamp near a naval base in Igbokoda early on Monday. Search crews discovered the wreckage submerged in water and observed smoke rising from the site.

Eighty‑five passengers and crew aboard—the flight carried 25 passengers and 7 crew members—were confirmed dead. Remnants of clothing and shoes were recovered from the water, and officials said the wreckage was still partially underwater.

Tinubu said “This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation.” He called the dead soldiers’ sacrifice “unforgettable” and ordered the Air Force to launch a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents.

The Nigerian Air Force has released the names of those killed, most of whom were active military personnel. Investigators are studying flight data recorders and eyewitness accounts to determine if mechanical failure, pilot error, or hazardous weather contributed to the disaster.

This crash follows a series of recent aviation tragedies in Nigeria, including the 2021 mid‑air collision that killed Army Chief Lt‑Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and other officers, and a 2021 military aircraft crash that killed seven personnel near Abuja.

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