Timeline: 10 major Nigerian Air Force crashes since 1980
A Nigerian Air Force plane carrying 25 military and civilian passengers crashed in southwestern Ondo state on Monday, killing all on board. The accident was one of the worst air disasters in the country in recent years.…
The Nigerian Air Force has grappled with a recurring pattern of fatal crashes over more than four decades, involving both fighter jets and transport or training aircraft. These accidents have claimed the lives of senior military officers, pilots and, in some cases, civilians on the ground, repeatedly raising questions about the maintenance of an ageing fleet, pilot training standards and oversight of military aviation safety in Nigeria.
This timeline compilation follows a recent crash in Ondo State, prompting newsrooms to revisit the NAF's safety record by listing past disasters in locations such as Lagos, Kaduna and Benue. Coverage from Punch and Legit.ng both frame the list as a historical record of the deadliest incidents since 1980, though details such as exact casualty figures, aircraft types and causes for each individual crash vary by outlet and warrant independent verification.