NAF Intensifies Search, Recovery Operations, Sets Up Board to Investigate ATR 42 Crash
NAF Intensifies Search, Recovery Operations, Sets Up Board to Investigate ATR 42 Crash
NAF Intensifies Search, Recovery Operations, Sets Up Board to Investigate ATR 42 Crash
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified search and recovery operations following the crash involving its ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, at Igbokoda, Ondo State, on October 5, 2026, while establishing a specialist board to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Service said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, had directed sustained recovery efforts alongside a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, Head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, is coordinating the overall response, while Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli is serving as President of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board.
According to the NAF, the 12-member board comprises specialists in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance and medical services. Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) are also part of the team.
The board is mandated to examine the operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors surrounding the accident. Its work will include documenting and preserving evidence to establish the facts and determine the immediate and underlying causes of the incident.
The investigation will also assess the emergency response, including search and rescue activities, medical assistance, recovery operations and accident-site management. The board is expected to make evidence-based recommendations to strengthen aviation safety and minimise the risk of similar incidents.
The NAF said it remained committed to supporting the families of those affected, adding that it had established a dedicated helpline at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, through the Office of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs, to provide recorded next of kin with timely information and clarification.
The Service also disclosed that administrative arrangements had been activated, including meetings with affected families and other support measures to assist them during the difficult period.
In a statement issued on October 13, 2026, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the Service recognised the public’s interest in the investigation and would provide updates as verified information became available.
He cautioned against premature conclusions regarding the cause of the accident, stressing that findings would be determined only after the investigation had been completed and properly considered.
The NAF extended its condolences to the bereaved families, colleagues and others affected by the tragedy, reaffirming its commitment to a thorough and professional investigation, support for affected families and implementation of appropriate safety recommendations.
NAF Intensifies Search, Recovery Operations, Sets Up Board to Investigate ATR 42 Crash
