A military helicopter carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members crashed in southwestern Nigeria, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said on Monday, October 5. According to Reuters, the helicopter came down close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Its wreckage had been located, and search and rescue operations were continuing when the initial report was published.
There was no immediate confirmation of casualties. The available information did not establish how many people had survived, whether anyone had been injured or whether fatalities had occurred.
Helicopter was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew
The minister’s statement put the total number of people aboard at 32, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members. The initial report identified the aircraft as a military helicopter but did not provide its model, operating unit, departure point or intended destination. It also did not disclose the purpose of the flight or the identities of those aboard. These details remained unavailable in the information released at the time of reporting.
Wreckage located near Igbokoda Naval Base
Keyamo said the crash occurred close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, a location in Ondo State in southwestern Nigeria. The wreckage had been found, allowing search and rescue efforts to focus on the crash site. However, the initial statement did not provide a detailed account of the condition of the aircraft or the progress of the rescue operation. The report also did not specify the exact time of the crash.
Casualties and cause remain unconfirmed
Search and rescue operations were ongoing, and no confirmed casualty figures were immediately available. The presence of 32 people aboard should therefore not be interpreted as a confirmed death toll.
The cause of the crash was also not disclosed. The available report contained no confirmed findings about mechanical problems, weather conditions or other possible contributing factors.
Further official information would be needed to establish the fate of the passengers and crew, the circumstances of the flight and what led to the helicopter coming down. At the time of the initial report, the confirmed details were limited to the number aboard, the crash location, the discovery of the wreckage and the continuing rescue effort.
