A small Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express Airways crash-landed and somersaulted during an emergency diversion to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday evening, leaving all four persons onboard hospitalised but with no fatalities reported.
The aircraft, registered 5N-ASR, had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt when the crew declared an in-flight emergency and diverted to Owerri.
The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. local time as the plane approached Runway 17, resulting in it overshooting and flipping over in the runway approach area.
There was no post-crash fire, and airport emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene. Flight operations at the airport continued largely uninterrupted, with the runway remaining operational for other aircraft.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a full investigation. In a statement, NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, confirmed the details and noted that investigators are coordinating with authorities to secure the site and recover the wreckage for detailed examination.
NSIB Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed relief over the absence of fatalities: “We express our deepest sympathies to the management of Skypower Express and are glad that no fatalities have been reported so far. The NSIB has activated its protocols, and our team is already on ground.”
Sources indicate the four occupants likely including the pilot and passengers were taken to hospital for treatment, though the extent of injuries has not been specified.
Further updates are expected as the NSIB probe progresses into the cause of the emergency and the crash.
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