Aviation Minister Keyamo Confirms Military Helicopter Crash

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, confirmed that a military helicopter crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Preliminary information indicates that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board the aircraft, which disappeared while en route to Lagos from Benin at 9:13 a.m. on Monday.

Residents of the coastal community were thrown into panic as details of the crash remained unclear. Keyamo stated that all attempts to establish radio contact with the aircraft, identified by the tail number NGR 931, were unsuccessful.

He also mentioned that the wreckage of the helicopter has been located and that search and rescue operations are currently ongoing. Keyamo emphasized that the control and regulation of military aircraft fall outside the authority of the Ministry of Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority.

He has communicated with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to offer full cooperation in the ongoing rescue efforts.