The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the Nigerian Navy have sustained underwater recovery efforts at the site of the Nigerian Air Force ATR 42-500 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, retrieving more wreckage as investigations into the fatal incident continue.
The NSIB announced the development in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, noting that specialist divers were working continuously to recover aircraft components and other materials that could help investigators determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The bureau said the operation was being conducted around the clock, with teams navigating difficult underwater conditions in the swampy mangrove terrain where the aircraft went down on October 5.
“Specialist divers from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and Nigerian Navy are continuing round-the-clock underwater search and recovery operations at the NAF ATR 42-500 accident site in Igbokoda, Ondo State,” the statement read.
According to the NSIB, the recovery exercise involves several technical methods designed to locate submerged wreckage and make it accessible. These include hydrographic surveys, satellite synthetic aperture radar imagery, mud excavation and continuous pumping of water from the affected area.
The agency said the combined efforts had led to the retrieval of additional aircraft components, although it did not disclose the specific items recovered or the extent of the wreckage retrieved so far.
“Supported by hydrographic surveys, satellite SAR imagery, mud excavation, and continuous water pumping, multi-agency teams have successfully recovered additional aircraft components,” it said.
The bureau explained that the difficult terrain, accumulated mud and waterlogged conditions had hindered access to parts of the wreckage, making specialised equipment and coordinated recovery methods necessary.
Hydrographic surveys are being used to examine underwater conditions, while satellite imagery helps teams identify areas of interest. Excavation and water pumping are also assisting recovery personnel in reaching sections of the aircraft buried beneath mud or submerged in water.
The NSIB stressed that the search had not been concluded, as investigators continued to seek materials needed for the ongoing inquiry.
“Search efforts remain active to retrieve all relevant materials to support the ongoing investigation,” the statement added.
The agency did not announce any findings on the cause of the crash, saying the recovery exercise remained focused on securing evidence that could assist investigators in reconstructing the events leading to the accident.
The aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on October 5 while travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos on a routine mission. Contact with air traffic controllers was reportedly lost at about 9.13am before the wreckage was discovered near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area.
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The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 people aboard the aircraft, including five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the crash.
Following the incident, the military, NSIB, Nigerian Navy, Ondo State Government and other emergency responders became involved in the recovery operation.
The challenging swamp environment prompted the Ondo State Government to deploy swamp buggies to help personnel reach the wreckage. The state Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, had explained that the aircraft sank deep into the swamp, preventing conventional vehicles and boats from accessing the location easily.
Ajaka said the specialised vehicles were required to reach the area where the aircraft was submerged, while divers continued working underwater to recover wreckage and other materials.
The Nigerian Air Force has also established a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, establish its cause and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
The inquiry is expected to examine evidence recovered from the site, including aircraft components and other materials that could provide insight into what happened before the aircraft crashed.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, previously visited the crash site and assured the victims’ families that the military would investigate the incident.
However, authorities have yet to publicly determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
Beyond the recovery challenge, the incident has generated environmental and public health concerns among residents of Igbokoda, particularly over the condition of the river and the possible effects of aircraft debris and fuel.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had called on the Federal and Ondo State governments to speed up the recovery of victims’ remains and aircraft wreckage, citing a strong odour around the river and fears of possible aviation fuel contamination.
The monarch described the smell as “extremely offensive and unbearable” and warned that the situation could affect residents who depend on the river for domestic activities and their livelihoods.
His concerns added to calls for the authorities to accelerate the recovery operation and assess the potential environmental impact of the crash.
Following complaints from residents, the Ondo State Government ordered fumigation around the Igbokoda River and directed relevant ministries to address the concerns raised by the community.