Accident investigators said there was no fatality after a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, Tuesday night.
The aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-ASR, departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before diverting to Owerri after the crew declared an in-flight emergency.
The crash occurred at about 8:00 p.m. within the airport premises. Four passengers and crew members were onboard at the time of the incident.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, confirmed that it had been notified of the crash. The aircraft impacted the approach area of Runway 17, but no fatalities or serious injuries were recorded.
Airport emergency services were immediately activated and responded promptly to the scene. There was no post-crash fire, and flight operations were not disrupted, as the runway remained active with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.
Recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft are ongoing to enable a detailed examination of the wreckage.
The NSIB has activated its investigation protocols in line with its statutory mandate to determine the cause of the accident.
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The Director-General of the Bureau, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy with the management of Skypower Express and relief that no lives were lost.
He added that the investigation team is coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the crash site and begin a comprehensive probe.
The incident comes days after another aviation mishap at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, where 11 people narrowly escaped death when a private jet owned by Flybird Aviation crash-landed on Sunday morning.
The jet, travelling from Kano to Abuja, crash-landed at about 9:30 a.m. while approaching the airport. Passengers and cabin crew were safely evacuated as emergency personnel responded swiftly at the runway.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has yet to issue an official statement on the Kano incident. Unofficial sources indicated that the passengers were taken away from the airport.
Kano Airport has recorded several aircraft incidents in the past. A major accident occurred in May 2002 when an EAS Airline aircraft veered off the runway after take-off en route to Lagos, resulting in multiple fatalities.
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