Governor Aiyedatiwa Orders Search After Air Force Crash

On October 7, 2026, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited the crash site of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area. He ordered the continuation of search and recovery operations, noting that no survivors had been found and the main wreckage was yet to be located, believed to be deeply submerged in the swamp.

Aiyedatiwa instructed the state Ministry of Works to deploy two amphibious swamp machines to assist in the challenging recovery efforts, which involve the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency, and local divers. The governor reported that human remains, clothing, and parts of the aircraft had been recovered, and there were concerns about environmental pollution due to leaking aviation fuel.

Eyewitness accounts suggested the pilot may have experienced engine trouble before the crash, potentially averting a more serious incident in the community. Aiyedatiwa expressed condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Air Force, and the victims' families.