The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Navy have intensified underwater search and recovery operations at the site of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42-500 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, with additional aircraft components recovered.
The NSIB disclosed this in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, October 15, 2026, noting that specialist divers were working round the clock to retrieve wreckage and other materials needed for the ongoing investigation.
The aircraft, which crashed into a swampy mangrove area, sank into the waterlogged terrain, making access to the wreckage difficult. The recovery operation has consequently required specialised equipment and a combination of underwater search, excavation and water-pumping techniques.
According to the bureau, the operation is being supported by hydrographic surveys, satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, mud excavation and continuous water pumping to help locate submerged aircraft components and improve access to the crash site.
“Search efforts remain active to retrieve all relevant materials to support the ongoing investigation,” the NSIB stated.
The bureau, however, did not disclose the specific components recovered in the latest operation or the extent of the wreckage retrieved so far.
The recovered materials are expected to assist investigators in examining the wreckage and reconstructing the circumstances surrounding the accident. No official conclusion has been announced regarding the cause of the crash.
The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, crashed on October 5 while on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
Contact with air traffic controllers was reportedly lost at about 9:13 a.m. before the wreckage was located near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the accident.
The tragedy prompted a coordinated response involving the military, the NSIB, the Nigerian Navy, the Ondo State Government and other emergency personnel.
In the days following the crash, the Ondo State Government deployed swamp buggies to assist recovery teams in reaching the wreckage.
The state Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, had explained that the aircraft sank deep into the swamp, making it difficult for conventional vehicles and boats to access the location.
The swamp buggies were deployed to help personnel navigate the challenging terrain while divers continued their underwater operations.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, determine its cause and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The investigation is expected to draw on evidence recovered from the site, including aircraft components and other materials that could provide information about the aircraft’s condition and events leading to the crash.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also visited the crash site and assured the victims’ families that the circumstances surrounding the tragedy would be investigated.
However, authorities have yet to publicly establish the cause of the accident.
Beyond the recovery challenges, the incident has raised environmental and public health concerns among residents of Igbokoda, particularly over the condition of the river and the possibility of contamination from aviation fuel and other aircraft materials.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, had appealed to the Federal and Ondo State governments to accelerate the recovery of victims’ remains and aircraft debris.
The monarch expressed concern over an offensive odour around the river and the potential implications for residents who depend on the waterway for domestic activities and their livelihoods.
He described the smell as “extremely offensive and unbearable,” urging the authorities to address the situation and expedite the recovery process.
In response to the complaints, the Ondo State Government ordered fumigation around the Igbokoda River and directed relevant ministries to address the concerns raised by residents.
As underwater operations continue, attention remains focused on the recovery of the remaining wreckage, the investigation into the cause of the crash and measures to address the environmental concerns in the affected community.