Igbokoda Air Crash: Aiyedatiwa Orders Intensified Search, Says Pilot Averted Bigger Disaster
7th October, 2026
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has ordered the intensification of search and recovery operations at the scene of Monday’s Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
Aiyedatiwa gave the directive on Wednesday when he visited the crash site, where rescue teams were still searching for the main wreckage and victims believed to have been trapped in the swamp.
The governor, who described the incident as a national tragedy, said no survivor had been found as of the time of his visit, while about 25 people were believed to have been on board the aircraft.
He said the pilot appeared to have made efforts to prevent a greater catastrophe by manoeuvring the aircraft away from the community before it crashed into the swamp, approximately 200 metres from the populated area.
According to him, residents who witnessed the incident reported that the aircraft appeared to be experiencing a problem as it descended, with its sound suggesting a possible engine fault.
Aiyedatiwa said the pilot’s manoeuvre prevented the aircraft from crashing directly into the community, which could have resulted in significant loss of lives and property.
“The pilot was able to manoeuvre the aircraft away from the community before it landed about 200 metres away and went straight into the swamp,” he said.
The governor, however, noted that only the pilot could have provided an explanation of what happened during the final moments of the flight.
The aircraft, which was carrying Nigerian Air Force personnel on a special mission from Benin to Lagos, crashed in Igbokoda on Monday.
During his inspection of the site, Aiyedatiwa said the search operation had been hampered by the difficult terrain, with the main body of the aircraft believed to be submerged deep inside the swamp.
He said parts of bodies, clothes, jackets belonging to Air Force personnel and pieces of the aircraft had been recovered and preserved for further investigation.
Describing the scene as a “very gory sight,” the governor said efforts were ongoing to locate the cockpit, the main wreckage and other possible victims.
To improve access to the crash site, Aiyedatiwa said he had directed the state Ministry of Works to deploy two amphibious machines, popularly known as swamp boogies.
He explained that the equipment had helped create wider access through the waterways and enabled rescue teams to move larger boats closer to the crash location.
The machines were also being used to excavate portions of the swamp in an effort to locate the submerged aircraft and other wreckage.
The governor further disclosed that aviation fuel was flowing into the water, resulting in pollution around the crash site.
He was accompanied to the location by personnel of the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, divers, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and local residents who had participated in the search efforts since the crash.
The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, Captain Andy Alemongwa, briefed the governor on the progress of the ongoing search and recovery operation.
Aiyedatiwa commiserated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the deceased officers.
He described the victims as young and capable Nigerians who had dedicated their lives to defending the territorial integrity of the country.
The governor urged Nigerians to continue praying for the bereaved families, saying the loss was tragic and unexpected.
Also at the inspection were the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; members of the State Executive Council and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Emergency Management, Mr Wellington Oriade Adebawo
