- Private jet crash-lands at Owerri airport
- Four occupants rushed to hospital, no deaths reported
- Aircraft diverted after in-flight emergency
- NSIB launches full investigation into incident
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed an aviation incident involving a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express at the Owerri airport in Imo State.
The aircraft, with registration number 5N-ASR, was originally en route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew reported an in-flight emergency and diverted to Owerri.
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According to NSIB, the aircraft crash-landed around 8:00 pm during its approach to Runway 17, where it somersaulted on impact. All four occupants on board were rescued alive and taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
Confirming the development, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said emergency responders were quickly deployed to the scene.
“Airport emergency response services were immediately activated and arrived promptly. There was no post-crash fire, and flight operations were not disrupted, as the runway remained active,” she said.
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Airport officials who spoke anonymously said the victims were visibly injured but conscious as they were taken away for treatment. Their exact medical condition, however, could not be independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.
The Director-General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the bureau had begun a full investigation into the incident.
“We express our deepest sympathies to the management of Skypower Express and are relieved that no fatalities were recorded. Our investigation team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the site,” he said.
Efforts are ongoing to evacuate the damaged aircraft from the runway area to allow investigators conduct a detailed examination of the wreckage.
As of press time, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were yet to issue official statements on the incident.
