A helicopter has crashed in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with several people feared dead.
The incident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, throwing residents of the coastal community into panic as authorities and emergency responders moved to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The identity of the aircraft, the number of people aboard and the condition of any possible survivors had yet to be officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Maurice Oripelaye, confirmed the incident to Blueprint Newspaper.
Oripelaye said the helicopter crashed in a swampy location close to the naval facility, adding that the exact circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the reported aircraft crash in the Igbokoda axis, saying details of the incident were still emerging.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the police were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Jimoh urged residents of Igbokoda and adjoining communities to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information about the crash.
He assured residents that the command would provide further credible information as soon as it becomes available.
The Ondo incident comes amid a series of aviation accidents and serious incidents that have kept aviation safety under scrutiny in Nigeria and elsewhere in the region.
In July, an Enugu Air Embraer ERJ 170 aircraft carrying 63 passengers and five crew members overran the runway after landing at the Oba Akenzua II Airport in Benin, Edo State.
The aircraft entered the unpaved area beyond the runway and struck approach-lighting installations and concrete structures. All 68 occupants were evacuated without injury.
The NSIB subsequently issued four immediate safety recommendations concerning the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and availability of meteorological information at the airport.
In June, the NSIB also investigated a serious incident involving a Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft operated by VMO Aero Limited during a flight from Lagos to Asaba Airport in Delta State.
The aircraft reportedly discontinued its initial approach to Asaba before repositioning for another approach. The NSIB later released a preliminary report as its investigation continued.
Earlier in February, an Arik Air Boeing 737-700 developed an abnormal engine event while operating a scheduled flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The crew diverted to Benin, where the aircraft landed safely and all occupants disembarked without injuries.