Nigeria mourns 32 dead after military plane crashes into swamp

Tue Oct 06 2026 12:15:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Nigerian president has declared three days of mourning following an aircraft crash in Ondo State that killed all 32 passengers and crew.

A military ATR‑42 aircraft plunged into a swamp near a naval base in Ondo State, killing 32 people and prompting President Bola Tinubu to call for a national mourning period. The loss has prompted an immediate investigation by the Nigerian Air Force, as the aircraft was en route from Benin City to Lagos. Tinubu has flown national flags at half‑mast and urged the military community to honour the fallen. This tragedy adds to a series of recent African air disasters, highlighting ongoing safety concerns for military aviation.

Nigeria mourns 32 killed as military plane crashes into swamp

President Bola Tinubu has declared a three‑day period of national mourning after a military aircraft went down in a swamp near a naval base in Ondo State, killing all 32 passengers and crew.

The African‑Sea‑Operational aircraft, an ATR‑42, was performing a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed into a swamp near the Igbokoda naval base on Monday morning. Official reports indicated the engine had failed and the aircraft became submerged under water before rescue teams arrived.

Residents reported finding clothing and shoes at the site, with smoke drifting above the water. The Air Force remains on standby as investigators search for a definitive cause.

Tinubu expressed deep condolences for the 25 passengers and seven crew members and ordered a comprehensive inquiry to prevent future incidents. He also ordered national flags to be flown at half‑mast across the country as a tribute to the fallen.

The crash marked one of the deadliest air disasters in Nigeria’s recent history. Six months earlier, Army Chief Lt‑Gen Ibrahim Attahiru died along with 10 officers after a plane went down in Kaduna. In February, a military aircraft crashed short of the runway in Abuja, claiming seven lives.

Aerial experts and aviation officials are working to identify whether equipment failure, weather or pilot error contributed to the tragedy. The investigation will look into maintenance logs, flight data recorders, and the aircraft’s operational history.