By Paul Joseph
The Nigerian Navy has deployed specialised sonar equipment to locate the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft that crashed and became submerged in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The deployment 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, NAF, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh.
The aircraft crashed in the swampy Igbokoda area on Monday, prompting a multi-agency search and recovery operation in the difficult riverine terrain.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, directed the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department to deploy the sonar equipment for an underwater survey of the crash site.
The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, Navy Captain Andy Alemongwa, said the equipment became necessary because high turbidity in the swamp had made underwater visibility extremely poor.
He explained that the sonar survey would help map the crash site and determine the precise location of the submerged aircraft, with the findings expected to guide divers and other technical personnel involved in the recovery.
“The operation is also being supported by Nigerian Navy divers and NAF drone pilots conducting searches across the surrounding mangrove and forested areas,” Alemongwa said.
The naval and air force commanders were received at the Forward Operating Base Officers’ Mess before proceeding by boat to the crash site for an on-the-spot assessment.
At the site, they assessed the difficult terrain and provided technical guidance on measures to accelerate the recovery operation.
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 supporting the recovery effort.
He urged all stakeholders to remain calm and continue cooperating with the agencies involved in the operation.
The naval commander also commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as Hi-Tech and AUC Construction companies, for providing mechanised equipment to support the recovery effort.
The operation is also expected to receive support from a swamp buggy to facilitate excavation and movement through the challenging terrain.
Mustapha later inspected the swamp buggy launching point and interacted with the technical crew, urging them to intensify efforts to recover the aircraft.
He said the recovery operation involved military formations, emergency response agencies, security organisations, technical personnel and other stakeholders working together to locate, access and recover the submerged aircraft and its contents from the riverine terrain.
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