Nigeria, Oct. 6 -- For decades, Nigeria's military skies have carried the weight of a dangerous paradox: aircraft deployed to defend the country have sometimes become scenes of tragedy themselves.

The latest incident came on October 5, 2026, when a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.

The aircraft, with 25 passengers and seven crew members on board, crashed close to a naval base after disappearing from radar at about 9:13 a.m.

The tragedy has now drawn renewed attention to Nigeria's history of military aviation accidents, some of which claimed the lives of senior military officers, pilots and other personnel. Here are ...