Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa says the pilot of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda may have prevented a bigger tragedy by steering the plane away from the community before it went down in a swamp.
The ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on Monday during a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos, killing all 25 people on board, including five crew members and 20 passengers.
Aiyedatiwa spoke on Wednesday when he visited the crash site, where recovery efforts entered their second day.
According to the governor, residents who witnessed the incident said the aircraft appeared to be heading towards the community before the pilot changed its direction.
“From what the people told us, the aircraft was almost coming into the community, but the pilot managed to manoeuvre it away before it crashed about 200 metres from the community and went straight into the swampy area,” Aiyedatiwa said.
Residents Report Engine Trouble
The governor said residents also reported hearing an unusual sound from the aircraft shortly before the crash, which they believed suggested an engine problem.
“It’s only the pilot that could have been able to tell the efforts put in place to be able to manoeuvre. Because people from the area could see the plane coming down, with a sound like a bad engine, almost landing within the community.”
Aiyedatiwa described the crash site as a “very gory sight”, adding that belongings belonging to NAF personnel and aircraft fragments had been recovered and preserved for investigation.
Wreckage Still Submerged
The main body of the aircraft had not been located as of Wednesday, with authorities believing it remained submerged in the swamp.
“The main body of the aircraft has not been sighted. It is believed to be submerged in the swamp,” he said.
Thick mangroves, murky water and deep mud have complicated the recovery operation. The cockpit and black boxes were also yet to be located.
Aiyedatiwa said he had directed the Ondo State Ministry of Works to deploy two amphibious machines, popularly known as swamp buggies, to improve access to the area.
The machines are being used to excavate sections of the swamp in the search for the submerged wreckage, while Navy personnel, divers and local residents continue to search the deeper sections.
Explaining the difficult terrain, the governor said some areas could reach depths of about 30 metres.
Fuel Pollution Raises Concern
The governor also expressed concern about environmental pollution at the crash site, saying aviation fuel was still flowing into the water as recovery operations continued.
