By Abdul-Hafeez Fadehan
The loss of communication with the Nigerian Air Force aircraft shortly after take-off before it crashed in Ondo State was “suspicious,” a senior Air Traffic Controller has said.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13am on Monday.
The aircraft subsequently crashed into a swampy area in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Air Traffic Controller, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the incident, told The PUNCH that communication was established with the aircraft shortly after take-off before it suddenly disappeared from radar.
“I must tell you that this is looking somehow shoddy. When the aircraft took off, we were in touch with it shortly afterward, but it disappeared from the radar. Efforts to reach it were unsuccessful,” the source said.
He said personnel at the closest reporting points in Okitipupa later reported hearing a loud bang believed to have been the sound of the crash.
According to the controller, the military immediately commenced search-and-rescue efforts after being informed that the aircraft had disappeared from radar.
“But it was strange. Almost immediately after it took off, we lost communication with it. There was no communication, nothing. And that makes it suspicious. The aircraft just vanished until the crash.
“Even as we speak, the search-and-rescue operation is still ongoing, and when that is concluded, I should be able to get more information,” the source said.
The controller added that the circumstances surrounding the crash could become clearer as the search-and-rescue and recovery operations progressed.
“The loss of communication is very suspicious, but God will help us anyway. It is very possible for us to get clearer information as things unfold,” the source added.
The shocking incident has thrown the nation into mourning, as no survivor was found after the crash.
Locals in the Ilaje community who have been to the site of the incident only recovered military uniforms, ID cards and some items believed to be parts of the plane.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while confirming the incident on Monday, said air traffic controllers had informed him of the aircraft’s disappearance.
“I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” Keyamo said.
He later confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda and that the wreckage had been located.
The Nigerian Air Force said the aircraft was an ATR-42 on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos and activated a search-and-rescue operation in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
The aircraft had 32 people on board, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members. President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
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