Four people narrowly escaped death on Tuesday evening when a Cessna 172 aircraft, operated by Skypower Express, crashed and somersaulted at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State. The incident, which occurred around 8:00 p.m., prompted an immediate and high-scale response from airport emergency services.
The aircraft, identified by registration marks 5N-ASR, was originally traveling from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport. However, while mid-flight, the crew declared an emergency, necessitating an urgent diversion to Owerri. According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the plane crashed in the approach area of Runway 17. Despite the aircraft somersaulting upon impact, all four occupants survived and were promptly evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.
In a statement released by Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, it was confirmed that the crash did not result in a fire. Remarkably, flight operations at the Owerri airport remained largely undisrupted, with the runway remaining active for subsequent take-offs shortly after the scene was secured.
“Efforts are currently underway to coordinate the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site to allow for a detailed wreckage examination,” Oladeji stated. She added that the NSIB has officially activated its investigation protocols to determine the cause of the emergency and subsequent crash.
Captain Alex Badeh Jr., the Director-General of the NSIB, expressed his relief over the lack of fatalities while extending sympathies to the management of Skypower Express. “We are glad that no fatalities have been reported so far. Our team is already coordinating with authorities to secure the site and investigate the root cause of this occurrence,” Badeh said.
While the exact health status of the four survivors has not been independently confirmed, airport sources indicated they were conscious during their transfer to medical care. This incident follows a similar narrow escape in Kano just days prior.
