A military aircraft crashed in southern Nigeria with 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board on Monday. According to the Associated Press, the aircraft was on a routine mission to Nigeria's economic hub of Lagos when it crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo state, Nigeria's Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said in a statement. There were no confirmation on casualities. Earlier, local media reported that all the members on board were killed but later a statement released by the aviation ministry did not mention anything on deaths.

What happened with the ill-fated aircraft?

"I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive. Subsequently information however confirmed that the military aircraft has crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing," said the aviation minister.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties, or to what extent the aircraft was damaged.

The Nigerian Air Force identified the aircraft as an ATR-42, and it was not immediately clear to what extent the aircraft was damaged. "Search and rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing," said air force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame.

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"We heard something like a thunder strike"

Locals told The Associated Press the aircraft crashed near a river and that part of it was sinking in the water. "We heard something like a thunder strike," said Akinbulejo Pius, a witness. "The plane cleared some trees. We found some body parts, some clothes and shoes."

Keyamo said the aircraft first disappeared from radar at around 9 am local time, and that it was found to have crashed close to a naval base.

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The Nigerian military has in the past used the ATR-42 for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and for transporting personnel and supplies.

(With inputs from agencies)

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