‎ NAF Aircraft Crash: Navy, Air Force Chiefs Inspect Submerged ATR-42 In Ondo

The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, and the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh, have inspected the crash site of the submerged NAF ATR-42 aircraft at Igbokoda, Ilaje local government area of Ondo State.

The visit came as military authorities intensified efforts to locate and recover the aircraft and its contents from the difficult swampy terrain.

The aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed in the Igbokoda area on Monday while on a routine mission.

The military delegation was received at the Officers’ Mess of the Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, by the Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Andy Alemongwa, before proceeding to the crash area.

The delegation met with the chairman of Ilaje local government area, the state commissioners for health and environment, representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigerian Red Cross Society, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), security agencies and other stakeholders involved in the recovery operation.

Rear Admiral Mustapha conveyed the appreciation of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and other service chiefs to the Ondo State Government, host communities, emergency agencies and other stakeholders for their support since the crash occurred.

He urged stakeholders to remain calm and continue to cooperate with the agencies handling the recovery operation.

The military chiefs and other stakeholders subsequently travelled by boat to the crash site for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The delegation later visited the swamp buggy launching point, where Rear Admiral Mustapha interacted with the technical crew and urged them to intensify efforts towards the prompt recovery of the aircraft.

The recovery operation involves the Nigerian Armed Forces, emergency response agencies, security organisations, technical experts and other stakeholders working jointly to recover the submerged aircraft and its contents.