A week after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft plunged into a swamp in Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board, divers and rescue teams are intensifying efforts to recover the victims’ remains and locate the aircraft’s black box, as the search enters a critical phase.
The ATR-42 aircraft crashed on Monday, October 5, in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, while on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos. The aircraft’s main body is believed to remain buried beneath the swamp’s deep mud, complicating recovery operations.
The ongoing operation involves personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Marine Police, Nigerian Air Force, local divers and emergency management officials, who have been working to retrieve the victims’ remains and recover the wreckage.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who visited the crash site to assess the recovery efforts, said divers had recovered human remains, clothing and fragments of the aircraft, but the main wreckage had yet to be located.
He explained that the swamp’s depth and difficult terrain had hindered the operation, prompting the state government to deploy two amphibious machines, known as swamp buggies, to improve access and assist rescuers in excavating the muddy site.
The governor had earlier disclosed that naval personnel initially approached the crash site cautiously because of fears that the aircraft could explode or catch fire. After observing no immediate signs of fire, they moved in alongside local emergency responders and residents to search for survivors.
However, the search yielded no survivors, with the authorities subsequently confirming that all 25 people aboard the aircraft had died.
Meanwhile, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has ordered the establishment of an investigative panel to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
During a visit to the site, Aneke described the incident as a devastating loss to the Nigerian Air Force and the country, while assuring the bereaved families that the service would provide the necessary support.
He also urged the public to avoid speculation, stressing that qualified military and civilian aviation safety experts would investigate the incident and establish what happened.
The Nigerian Air Force has also commenced efforts to retrieve the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as the black box. The devices are expected to provide vital information about the aircraft’s performance and communications in the moments leading up to the crash.
On the ground, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohuagwu, confirmed that Marine Police personnel were collaborating with the Navy and local residents to recover the victims’ remains and aircraft wreckage.
Police and naval personnel have also restricted movement around the crash site as residents and sympathisers continued to gather in the area.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that a loud noise alerted residents to the incident, while some said they saw the aircraft plunge into the swamp.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also reported that residents heard a sound resembling an air tremor before the aircraft went down.
As the search continues, investigators are expected to examine the recovered wreckage and analyse any information retrieved from the flight recorders to establish the cause of the crash.
For now, the priority remains recovering the victims’ remains, locating the aircraft’s main body and securing critical evidence to support the investigation.
