The Federal Government has confirmed the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, in Ondo State.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said the aircraft was flying from Benin to Lagos when it was reported missing on Monday.
According to Keyamo, Air Traffic Controllers lost radio contact with the aircraft at about 9:13am, while efforts to re-establish communication were unsuccessful.
The aircraft was later confirmed to have crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with the wreckage subsequently located.
Preliminary information indicates that 25 passengers and seven crew members, making 32 people in total, were aboard the aircraft.
Keyamo clarified that the control and regulation of military aircraft falls outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He said he had spoken with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, assuring that the ministry would provide full cooperation and assistance with the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Search and rescue efforts are currently ongoing at the crash site, while the Minister said further details would be released as they become available.