The October 5 crash involving a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 in Igbokoda, Ondo State, has brought aviation safety back into public attention.
The aircraft, NAF 931, was travelling from Benin to Lagos when contact with it was lost. The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 people on board — five crew members and 20 passengers — died. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The Ondo crash follows another major aircraft accident recorded earlier in the year.
Enugu Air — July 23, 2026
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ 170-100LR, registration 5N-ENR
People on board: 68 — 63 passengers and five crew members
Casualties: No deaths or injuries
Location: Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin, Edo State
The Enugu Air aircraft was flying from Lagos to Benin when it overran the end of Runway 05 after landing. It went into the area beyond the runway and struck approach-lighting installations and two concrete structures.
All 68 people on board were safely evacuated. No injuries or fatalities were recorded. The NSIB’s investigation into the accident is ongoing.
On February 11, an Arik Air Boeing 737-700, 5N-MJF, experienced an engine failure while flying from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The aircraft diverted safely to Benin, and everyone on board disembarked without injury.
On June 10, a VMO Aero Bombardier Challenger CL-601, N989BC, carrying seven people, landed on a roadway near Asaba Airport after an unstable approach. There were no reported injuries or fatalities, and the aircraft later returned safely to Lagos.
Together, these incidents have kept aviation safety in Nigeria in the spotlight in 2026, while investigations into the major accidents continue.
