Military aircraft carrying 32 people crashes in southern Nigeria

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A military aircraft carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members has crashed in southern Nigeria, triggering a frantic search and rescue operation, according to authorities.

There was no immediate information as to whether there were casualties.

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said in a statement that the aircraft was on a routine mission to Lagos when it crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo state.

The Nigerian Air Force, who identified the aircraft as an ATR-42, said an immediate search and rescue operation was launched.

It was not immediately clear to what extent the aircraft was damaged.

Keyamo said the aircraft first disappeared from radar at around 9 am local time, and that it was found to have crashed about midway into its trip from Edo state to Lagos.