Military plane crash kills 32 in Nigeria

A Nigerian Air Force aircraft carrying 32 people crashed in the south-western state of Ondo on Monday, killing all 25 passengers and seven crew members on board, in one of the country's deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.

The ATR-42, which was undertaking a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos, lost contact with air traffic control at 8:13 am local time, shortly after take-off. Subsequently, wreckage was discovered near the coastal town of Igbokoda, prompting the deployment of search and rescue teams to the scene. President Bola Tinubu expressed profound condolences to the bereaved families, describing the incident as a deeply painful moment for the armed forces and the nation. Meanwhile, he ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the crash, adding that the victims' identities would be released only after their relatives had been notified.

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In addition, the presidency announced a three-day period of national mourning in honour of the fallen personnel, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the country. Rescue teams continued combing the area, while footage circulating on social media showed crowds gathering beside a river and rescuers conducting searches from boats. Nevertheless, the authorities have yet to establish what caused the crash, as the investigation remains ongoing.