The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have confirmed a crash landing involving a chartered aircraft at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night, with no fatalities recorded. The aircraft, with call sign ASR and registration number 5N-ASR, is a C-172 aircraft operated by SkyPower Express.
The aircraft was en route from Kaduna to Port Harcourt before making an emergency landing at the airport in Owerri.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Airport Command, Lagos, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said the incident occurred at about 6:58 p.m.
Adeola explained that the aircraft crash-landed at the threshold of Runway 17, sustaining varying degrees of damage. He said there were four crew members on board at the time of the incident.
“Upon receipt of the distress information, airport police patrol units, in collaboration with emergency response teams, were swiftly deployed to the scene.
“All occupants were successfully rescued. Two crew members were in stable condition, while the remaining two, who were initially unconscious, were evacuated to the hospital for medical attention,” he said.
Adeola added that airport operations were not disrupted, as the situation was quickly brought under control. He noted that the affected area remained under close monitoring, while aviation authorities commenced technical assessments in line with standard operating procedures.
“The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Olufunke Ogunbode, commends the professionalism and rapid coordination of all responding agencies and reassures the public of the command’s commitment to aviation safety and effective emergency response,” the statement added.
Similarly, the NSIB, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, confirmed the incident.
According to her, the crew declared an emergency, prompting a diversion to Owerri, where the aircraft subsequently crash-landed in the approach area of Runway 17.
“There were four people on board at the time of the accident, with no fatalities reported. There was also no post-crash fire, and the runway remained operational for flight activities,” Oladeji said.
She stated that arrangements were underway to recover and evacuate the aircraft from the crash site to enable a detailed examination of the wreckage.
Oladeji added that the Director-General of the bureau, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy to the management of SkyPower Express and welcomed the fact that no lives were lost.
She said the NSIB had activated its investigation protocols and was coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the site.
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