Ondo plane crash: Residents explain why they couldn’t rescue 32 victims

Residents of Igbokoda in Ondo State have explained how swampy terrain prevented them from rescuing victims of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash that killed all 32 people on board.

The ATR-42 aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda on Monday after losing contact with air traffic controllers.

According to Vanguard, residents rushed towards the crash site after hearing a loud noise but found the aircraft deeply buried in the swamp.

One resident, Lucky, said: “We have tried our best to rescue them, but the aircraft was deeply buried inside the swamp. Our people here have tried a lot.”

Another eyewitness, Jomiloju, said residents reached the wreckage by canoe but could not help the occupants.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the crash, while emergency and security agencies continue operations at the site.