Four Hospitalised as Aircraft Somersaults at Owerri Airport

• A Skypower Express Cessna 172 aircraft crash-landed at Owerri airport on Tuesday night, leaving all four occupants hospitalised, according to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed an aircraft accident involving a Cessna 172 operated by Skypower Express at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The incident was disclosed on Tuesday in a statement signed by the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji. According to the bureau, all four occupants on board the aircraft were hospitalised following the crash.

NSIB officials explained that 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.

The accident reportedly occurred at about 8:00 pm during the aircraft’s approach to Runway 17, where it crash-landed and somersaulted. Despite the severity of the incident, no fatalities were recorded.

Oladeji stated that airport emergency response services were immediately activated and arrived promptly at the scene. She added that there was no post-crash fire and that flight operations at the airport were not disrupted, as the runway remained operational and other aircraft continued normal movements.

Sources at the airport confirmed that the victims were taken to a hospital, although their medical conditions could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report. An airport worker, who spoke anonymously, said the occupants “appeared to have been taken to the hospital.”

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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were yet to issue official statements on the incident, as calls and messages to their spokespersons were unanswered.

The Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the bureau has activated its investigation protocols in line with its mandate.

“We express our deepest sympathies to the management of Skypower Express and are relieved that no fatalities have been reported so far. Our team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the site,” he said.

Captain Badeh Jr. added that efforts were ongoing to recover and evacuate the damaged aircraft for a detailed examination, assuring that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.