Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said only the pilot of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, could explain the effort made to manoeuvre the aircraft away from the community before it crashed into a swamp.
Aiyedatiwa made the remarks when he visited the crash site, where search and recovery operations for the victims and the main wreckage were still ongoing.
The governor described the incident as a national tragedy, saying no survivor had been found and that all 25 occupants were believed to have died.
He described the crash site as a “very gory sight”, noting that body parts, clothes, jackets belonging to Air Force personnel and aircraft debris had been recovered and preserved for investigation.
Aiyedatiwa said the main body of the aircraft had not been located and was believed to be deeply submerged in the swamp.
He disclosed that two amphibious machines, popularly known as swamp buggies, had been deployed by the state Ministry of Works to create access through the difficult terrain and enable rescue teams to move larger boats closer to the crash site.
According to him, Navy personnel and local divers were continuing to search the deeper sections of the swamp for the aircraft, cockpit and other victims.
The governor also disclosed that aviation fuel was flowing into the water, causing pollution in the area.
Aiyedatiwa said residents who witnessed the crash reported that the aircraft appeared to be descending with a sound suggesting an engine problem and was heading towards the community before the pilot manoeuvred it away.
He said the aircraft eventually came down about 200 metres from the community and disappeared into the swamp.
“Only the pilot could explain the effort made to manoeuvre the aircraft away from the community,” he said.
The governor expressed relief that the aircraft did not crash directly into the community, saying such an occurrence could have resulted in a greater catastrophe.
He commiserated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the deceased, describing the victims as young Nigerians who had committed themselves to defending the territorial integrity of the country.
Aiyedatiwa also urged Nigerians to continue praying for the bereaved families, saying that although he remained a man of faith, the condition of the crash site made the possibility of finding survivors appear unlikely.
Meanwhile, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, Captain Andy Alemongwa, briefed the governor on the progress of the search and recovery operation.
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