The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it is continuing intensive recovery work at the site of the crashed ATR 42-500 aircraft, NAF 931, in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
By: Tunji Okunlola
The aircraft went down two weeks ago, and efforts to retrieve the wreckage and the remains of the 25 victims are still underway. During a visit to the site, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, asked Nigerians to be patient with the military as the operation continues.
In a statement, the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said continuous pumping has brought the water level at the site down considerably. The recovery team is now working to remove most of the remaining water, depending on prevailing conditions.
The statement said the embankment is also being reinforced with sandbags to stop it from collapsing and to keep the area stable while dewatering goes on. It described the mission as one requiring sustained engineering and dewatering work in difficult conditions, which reflects its scale and complexity.
The Air Force praised all recovery personnel and partner agencies, singling out Hitech Construction Company for its support. According to the statement, Aneke also commended the team’s resilience and professionalism and reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to finishing the operation safely and methodically while supporting the ongoing investigation into the crash.
The NAF also offered condolences to the bereaved families, saying it is aware of their pain and anguish. It pledged to keep up recovery efforts and to provide timely, verified updates as work progresses, and thanked the Igbokoda community and other stakeholders for their patience, cooperation and continued support.
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