- Four Hospitalised as Aircraft Crash Lands at Owerri Airport
- All four occupants were rescued and taken to hospital with no deaths recorded.
- NSIB has launched a full investigation into the incident.
A Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express has crash landed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, with all four occupants rushed to hospital.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji.
According to the bureau, the aircraft, with registration number 5N ASR, was en route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew declared an in flight emergency and diverted to Owerri.
NSIB officials disclosed that the aircraft crash landed during its approach to Runway 17 at about 8:00 pm on Tuesday, where it somersaulted on landing.
“All four occupants on board the aircraft were evacuated and taken to hospital. No fatalities have been reported,” Oladeji said.
Sources at the airport confirmed that emergency responders arrived at the scene immediately, although the condition of the victims could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
An airport worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “I am not certain of their exact location now, but they appeared to have been taken to the hospital.”
The NSIB said airport emergency response services were promptly activated and that there was no post crash fire. It added that flight operations at the airport were not disrupted, as the runway remained active and other aircraft continued normal operations after the incident.
Oladeji said arrangements were ongoing to recover and evacuate the damaged aircraft from the runway area to allow investigators conduct a detailed examination of the wreckage.
In the statement, the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the bureau had activated its investigation procedures in line with its mandate.
“We express our deepest sympathies to the management of Skypower Express and are relieved that no fatalities have been recorded. The NSIB has activated its protocols, and our team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the site and commence a full investigation,” Badeh said.
