Nigerian engineers seek military flight safety review after ATR-42 crash kills 25

The Institute of Nigerian Aeronautical Engineers has called for a sweeping review of flight safety, aircraft maintenance, airworthiness and operational procedures in the Nigerian Air Force after an ATR-42 aircraft crashed at Igbokoda in Ondo State on October 5, 2026, killing 25 people. The institute also urged a thorough, transparent and swift investigation, saying the events leading to the crash need to be established so it does not happen again.

In a condolence message released in Lagos, the institute's president, Dr Charles Ebitei, offered sympathy to the air force, the families of the dead and the nation. It backed the president's directive for an investigation, saying only a full inquiry could establish what happened and yield lessons to improve aviation safety.

According to the institute, the inquiry needs to be accompanied by a look at how flight safety is currently handled, including how aircraft are maintained, airworthiness standards and operational procedures. The INAE argued the crash left authorities with no choice but to examine safety processes and find any gaps requiring correction.

Separately, the brother of a NAF sergeant killed in the crash has accused the authorities of downplaying what happened, alleging the aircraft had a mechanical fault before the fatal flight, according to the Guardian. In a video circulating on social media, the grieving man said his sister was among the victims and that her final messages indicated a technical problem, with the aircraft stopping in Benin City, Edo State, for checks before continuing.

He accused the air force of giving a misleading account by describing the flight as a routine mission from Benin to Lagos. He insisted the aircraft had come from Abuja and stopped in Benin after developing what his sister called a 'snag.'