There were no survivors among the 25 people aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in southern Nigeria’s Ondo state, officials said Tuesday, after the plane disappeared from radar during a routine mission to Lagos. The ATR-42 aircraft was carrying 20 passengers and five crew members, according to the Nigerian Air Force, when it went down near the riverside town of Igbokoda. The crash has prompted mourning across the country, with authorities beginning an investigation into what caused the military aircraft to lose contact and crash. The incident also raised questions over the number of people aboard, as an earlier account from Nigeria’s aviation minister gave a significantly higher figure.

The Nigerian Air Force said the aircraft was on a routine mission to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, when it disappeared from radar. Search efforts subsequently located the wreckage close to a naval base in Igbokoda, a town in Ondo state. Officials said the aircraft had 25 people on board, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members, and confirmed that none survived the accident. Details about the final moments of the flight remained limited, and authorities had not publicly established what caused the aircraft to crash. The extent of the damage was also still being assessed as recovery efforts continued at the site.

The number of people aboard the aircraft has been the subject of conflicting official accounts. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo had previously said that 32 people were on board the aircraft. The Nigerian Air Force, however, subsequently said the plane was carrying 25 people, including five crew members. Officials did not immediately explain the seven-person difference between the two figures. The discrepancy remained unresolved as authorities worked to establish the circumstances of the accident and account for those who were aboard. Further information is expected to emerge from the military’s investigation and the identification and recovery process following the crash.

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Nigerian Chief of the Air Staff Sunday Kelvin Aneke described the accident as “a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation”. He expressed condolences to the families of those who died and assured them of the agency’s full support. President Bola Tinubu also announced three days of mourning following the crash and directed that flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the victims. The presidential response reflected the seriousness of the accident, which involved an aircraft operated by the country’s military. Tinubu said authorities must establish what went wrong and take steps to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.

“I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences,” Tinubu said in a statement. The investigation is expected to examine the aircraft’s flight, the circumstances surrounding its disappearance from radar and the events leading up to the crash. As of Tuesday, officials had not announced a cause for the accident or identified any specific technical, operational or environmental factor as responsible. The authorities were also yet to provide a detailed account of the recovery operation or release comprehensive information about the victims. Such details could become clearer as investigators examine the wreckage and gather information from those involved in the response.

The ATR-42 aircraft involved in the crash is commonly used by the Nigerian military for missions that include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as the transportation of personnel and supplies. Its use in military operations means aircraft of this type can be deployed for a range of logistical and operational assignments. Residents in Igbokoda told The Associated Press that the aircraft crashed near a river and was partially sinking in the water. Videos posted online that appeared to have been recorded at the scene showed people gathered near the river while rescuers attempted to reach the crash area. Local witness Akinbulejo Pius described hearing what sounded like a thunder strike before seeing the aircraft “clear some trees” and crash. The accounts offered an early picture of the accident scene, while officials continued recovery operations and began the formal investigation into the cause of the crash.

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