Cessna 172 Aircraft Crashes at Owerri Airport, No Casualties Reported

A Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express was involved in an accident on Tuesday evening at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, triggering a swift response from airport emergency services.

The aircraft, bearing nationality and registration marks 5N-ASR, was flying from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Owerri.

The crash occurred in the approach area of Runway 17 at about 8:00 p.m. local time. There were four persons on board, and no fatalities have been recorded.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that there was no post-crash fire, adding that airport operations were not disrupted, as other aircraft continued normal takeoff and landing activities after the incident.

In a statement, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the NSIB, said:
“Efforts are ongoing to recover the distressed aircraft from the crash site for a detailed wreckage examination.”

The bureau noted that it had activated its investigation procedures in line with its mandate. The Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy to the airline while welcoming the fact that no lives were lost.

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

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