A Squadron Leader of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Aham Man Ugweje, has been identified as the pilot of the military aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday.
The aircraft, an ATR-42-500MP Maritime Patrol aircraft with registration number NAF 931, was reportedly travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
Military sources told SaharaReporters that Ugweje was piloting the aircraft, while a technician identified as Samuel Victor was also part of the crew.
The sources said the aircraft is operated by the 81 Air Maritime Group in Benin City and is used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions, as well as limited transport operations.
A senior Air Force officer said the aircraft was assigned to Squadron Leader MM Haruna but was being flown by Ugweje at the time of the crash.
Another military source described Ugweje as newly married, saying he got married about two weeks before the accident.
The sources also said several newly commissioned pilot officers were among those aboard the aircraft. However, their identities and the exact number of people on board had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting.
The ATR-42 aircraft was reportedly acquired by the Nigerian government under a $73 million agreement signed in 2007 with Alenia Aeronautica, now Leonardo. It was delivered to Nigeria in December 2010.
According to military sources, the aircraft was taken to Germany in January 2022 for Periodic Depot Maintenance at the Rheinland Air Service facility in Mönchengladbach. It reportedly remained there for nearly four years before returning to Nigeria in December 2024.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday while it was travelling from Benin to Lagos.
Keyamo said attempts to re-establish radio communication with the aircraft were unsuccessful before authorities received confirmation that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
The Nigerian Air Force, through its spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the crash and said search-and-rescue operations had been launched in coordination with relevant authorities.
Preliminary information from the authorities indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board, putting the total number of occupants at 32.
Further details about the identities of those on board and the circumstances surrounding the crash are expected as search, rescue and investigation efforts continue.
