The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, issued the directive on Wednesday during a meeting with branch chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, principal staff officers and other senior commanders.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has ordered stricter flight safety oversight across its operations following the fatal crash involving its ATR 42-500 aircraft, NAF 931, in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on October 5, 2026.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, issued the directive on Wednesday during a meeting with branch chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, principal staff officers and other senior commanders.
According to a statement issued by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the directive is aimed at strengthening safety management, enforcing professional standards and ensuring accountability across the Service.
Aneke stressed the need for sustained vigilance, strict compliance with established procedures and continuous improvements in flight safety following the accident.
The crash occurred on the morning of October 5, when the ATR 42-500 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, went down in a swampy area near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Air Force initially said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. However, it was later gathered that the aircraft was heading to Lagos from Abuja.
The wreckage was subsequently located in the riverine community, where rescue and recovery teams encountered difficult terrain and waterlogged conditions.
The NAF later confirmed that all 25 people aboard the aircraft, comprising 20 passengers and five crew members, died in the crash. The figure differed from the initial announcement by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, who had said 32 people were on board.
President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the bereaved families and directed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the accident and prevent future occurrences.
Aneke subsequently visited the crash site as search, recovery and evidence-preservation operations continued.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the Air Chief expressed sorrow over the loss of personnel and acknowledged the grief of bereaved families and members of the Nigerian Air Force community. He also noted that substantial resources had been committed to personnel training, aircraft spare parts and maintenance to support airworthiness and operational readiness.
He stressed that operational effectiveness must be underpinned by sound judgement, professional discipline and the highest standards of flight safety,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, he directed commanders to maintain rigorous oversight of aircraft airworthiness, maintenance quality assurance, operational procedures and aircrew competence. He also emphasised proactive safety monitoring, prompt reporting of potential hazards and effective implementation of safety measures, noting that flight safety remains a shared command responsibility.”
Meanwhile, the NAF said search and recovery operations at the Igbokoda crash site were continuing, with specialist personnel and equipment from relevant agencies deployed to support the exercise.
The head of the Recovery and Investigation Team, Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, disclosed that the operation had involved extensive mud excavation and water pumping to gain access to relevant areas of the site.
According to the NAF, satellite-based search and rescue imagery, the Nigerian Navy’s hydrographic survey team and divers, as well as divers from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), had supported the recovery effort.
Additional aircraft components had also been recovered, documented and preserved for investigative purposes.
The NAF said the investigation board constituted to examine the crash had commenced work to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident through a systematic examination of available evidence, technical information and relevant records.
Aneke directed all relevant units and branches to preserve evidence, provide necessary records and cooperate fully with the investigation.
The Air Force urged members of the public to avoid speculation about the cause of the accident, insisting that the circumstances would be established through the ongoing investigation.
It also pledged to support affected families and implement appropriate safety recommendations arising from the investigation’s findings, adding that the protection of personnel and the integrity of future air operations remained its overriding priorities.