Plane Crashes at Owerri Airport, Four Crew Members Injured

A Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday evening, leaving four crew members hospitalized.

The incident occurred around 6:58 p.m. as the aircraft approached Runway 17, and the crew had declared an emergency mid-air, diverting to Owerri from its original route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident, stating that all four occupants were crew members and were rushed to the hospital. Two are in stable condition, while the other two were initially unconscious but are receiving medical attention.

Emergency responders were quickly activated, and airport police patrol units collaborated with emergency teams to rescue the occupants. Fortunately, there was no post-crash fire, and flight operations at the airport weren't disrupted.

The NSIB has launched an investigation into the incident, and efforts are underway to recover and evacuate the aircraft for a detailed examination. Director-General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. expressed relief that no lives were lost and sympathy for Skypower Express.

The aircraft, registered as 5N-ASR, somersaulted on the runway, but the runway remained operational, allowing other aircraft to take off and land safely.