The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified that 25 persons, comprising 20 passengers and five active crew members, were on board its ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, which crashed at Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Monday.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, dismissing reports that 32 persons were on board.
Ejodame explained that two non-active crew members were included among the 20 passengers, bringing the total number of persons on board to 25.
He said reports suggesting 32 persons may have resulted from a misunderstanding of aviation terminology, particularly the phrase “25 souls on board, inclusive of seven crew”, which means 25 persons in total, including the seven crew members.
He added that the civilians on board were family members of officers travelling to the same destination. The NAF, he said, released the verified figures and names of those on board after search and recovery operations and consultations with the affected families.
While expressing appreciation for the sympathy and support received from Nigerians, Ejodame said the service remained committed to supporting bereaved families. He stressed that those lost were valued individuals whose deaths had deeply affected their loved ones, the Air Force and the nation.
The NAF spokesman said investigations into the crash were ongoing, with further information to be released as appropriate and conclusions on its cause guided by the findings.
He urged the media and the public to exercise restraint and respect the privacy of grieving families, while reaffirming the service’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the welfare of its personnel. (NAN)
