The Nigerian Air Force has explained the conflicting reports over the number of people killed in Monday’s ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, attributing the discrepancy to differences in civil and military aviation terminology.
The NAF said 25 people were on board the aircraft, comprising five active crew members and 20 passengers, contrary to the earlier figure of 32 announced by government officials.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the confusion arose from the interpretation of the term “souls on board” used in aviation communication.
According to him, civil aviation air traffic controllers may communicate “25 souls on board, inclusive of seven crew,” while military aviation counts the seven crew members within the total figure of 25.
Ejodame explained that although seven people had crew status on the aircraft, only five were actively operating it when the crash occurred.
He said the other two crew members were travelling as passengers at the time, meaning the aircraft had seven crew members in total but only five were performing active crew duties.
The clarification followed an earlier statement by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who said 32 people were aboard the aircraft, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members.
The NAF later released the names of 25 people aboard the aircraft and confirmed that there were no survivors.
The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area while on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The NAF also urged members of the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation continues.
The conflicting figures have raised questions about the accuracy of records concerning those aboard the aircraft. Former SSS Director Mike Ejiofor said proper reliance on the aircraft’s manifest should have made it easier to establish the exact number and identities of those on board.
