A Nigerian military aircraft carrying ‌25 passengers and seven crew members crashed near a naval base in southwestern ​Ondo state after losing contact ​with air traffic control while en ⁠route to Lagos, the aviation minister ​said on Monday.

The minister, Festus Keyamo, ​said in a statement that controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 0813 GMT ​and were unable to re-establish communication ​before its disappearance was reported.

The wreckage was later ‌located ⁠near a naval base in the coastal town of Igbokoda, and search and rescue operations were underway, ​he said.

There ​was no ⁠immediate confirmation of casualties from the crash.

The crash is ​one of Nigeria's worst military ​aviation ⁠accidents in recent years and is likely to intensify scrutiny of flight ⁠safety ​and operational readiness ​as authorities investigate the cause.