The Nigerian military has intensified efforts to recover the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, deploying side-scan sonar technology to locate the submerged aircraft.
The sonar equipment was deployed by the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department following a directive from the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
The technology is being used to survey the underwater environment, map the crash site and establish the precise location of the aircraft.
Information gathered from the sonar operation is expected to guide Nigerian Navy divers and technical teams as they work to recover the aircraft and its contents.
The decision to deploy sonar followed the difficulty divers have faced in the highly turbid swamp water, where extremely poor visibility has made conventional visual searches challenging.
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While Navy divers continue the underwater operation, Nigerian Air Force drone pilots are conducting aerial searches of nearby mangrove and forested areas for possible aircraft debris and other evidence connected to the crash.
The sonar findings will also help determine the next stage of the recovery operation, including the planned deployment of a swamp buggy to facilitate excavation and movement through the difficult terrain.
The latest development followed an assessment of the crash site by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, and the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh.
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The delegation visited the site of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NAF 931, which crashed in the Igbokoda area.
Before travelling to the crash location, the delegation was received at the Officers’ Mess of the Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, by the Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Andy Alemongwa.
Government officials, community leaders, emergency management agencies and other stakeholders were also present at the base to offer condolences and support to the Armed Forces following the incident.
Among those present were the Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, the Ondo State Commissioners for Health and Environment, representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency, the State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Red Cross Society and the National Inland Waterways Authority, alongside personnel from other security agencies.
Rear Admiral Mustapha conveyed the appreciation of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Service Chiefs to the Ondo State Government, host communities, emergency agencies and other stakeholders for their support since the crash.
He appealed for continued calm and cooperation as the military and other agencies intensify efforts to recover the aircraft.
The FOC also commended Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as Hi-Tech and AUC Construction companies, for providing mechanized equipment to support the recovery operation.
The delegation subsequently travelled by boat to the crash site, accompanied by some stakeholders, to assess the situation firsthand.
At the location, the team examined the difficult terrain and evaluated the technical requirements for recovering the submerged aircraft and its contents.
The delegation also inspected the designated launch point for the swamp buggy.
During the visit, Rear Admiral Mustapha met with the technical crew and urged them to intensify their efforts towards the timely completion of the recovery operation.
The recovery exercise is being conducted jointly by the military, emergency management agencies, security organizations, technical personnel and other stakeholders, as efforts continue to locate and recover the crashed aircraft.
