Skypower Cessna 172 crash-lands at Owerri airport; all four occupants survive, aviation authorities launch investigation into the incident
A Skypower Express Cessna 172 aircraft, registration number 5N-ASR, crash-landed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport on Tuesday evening, with all four occupants surviving.
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The aircraft, en route from Kaduna to Port Harcourt, declared an emergency and diverted to Owerri, striking the approach area of Runway 17 at approximately 8 p.m.
It reportedly somersaulted on impact, sustaining varying degrees of damage, but no fire occurred.
ASP Mohammed Adeola, Police Public Relations Officer, Airport Command, Lagos, said airport patrol units and emergency response teams swiftly rescued the crew and passengers.
Two crew members were stable, while the remaining two, initially unconscious, were evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.
Airport operations continued uninterrupted, with the affected area under close monitoring. Aviation authorities have commenced technical assessments in line with standard procedures.
The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, CP Olufunke Ogunbode, commended the professionalism of the responding agencies and reassured the public of the command’s commitment to aviation safety and emergency response.
Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), confirmed that the wreckage was being evacuated for detailed analysis and that a full investigation into the crash had been launched.
NSIB Director-General Captain Alex Badeh Jr stated that teams were coordinating with airport authorities and emergency services to secure the site.
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He added that authorities were grateful for the absence of fatalities and promised a thorough examination to determine the cause of the incident.
