An eyewitness to the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, has praised the pilot for what he described as a final effort to steer the aircraft away from a residential area.
Igbokoda resident and eyewitness Igbekele Edema told Channels Television that the aircraft could have caused a greater loss of life on the ground if it had crashed directly into homes.
Edema said residents were shocked when the aircraft went down but believed the pilot’s actions helped direct the plane towards a bushy, less-populated area.
“That we are alive today is by the hand of God, and we are equally surprised as well. If not for the pilot, this accident would have been more fatal than this. The plane was supposed to crash inside our compound, but the pilot directed it to the bush,” Edema said.
Eyewitness Describes Final Moments
According to Edema, the crash happened suddenly and left residents in the area frightened.
He said witnesses saw a large amount of water rise into the air when the aircraft struck the ground before the wreckage became partially submerged.
The eyewitness also said flames engulfed the aircraft shortly after the impact, making it difficult for people nearby to approach the wreckage and attempt an immediate rescue.
His account provides a description of what residents witnessed at the crash site, but it does not establish the cause of the accident or independently confirm the pilot’s actions.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain subject to investigation.
25 People Confirmed Dead
The Nigerian Air Force has since confirmed that 25 people were aboard the ATR-42 aircraft, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State.
The Air Force said search-and-rescue procedures were immediately activated, but no survivors were found.
The Nigerian Navy and Marine Police have also commenced further operations at the crash site to search for the victims’ remains and aircraft wreckage.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the crash has not been established.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the incident, while authorities continue efforts to recover the victims and wreckage.
The crash has also prompted three days of national mourning following the deaths of the 25 people aboard the aircraft.
As investigators work to determine what caused the aircraft to go down, eyewitness accounts such as Edema’s are providing additional information about what happened in the moments immediately before and after the crash.
For residents of Igbokoda, the testimony has also highlighted the potential impact the crash could have had if the aircraft had come down directly in a populated residential area.