Four Narrowly Escape De@th, Hospitalized As Plane Crashes In Owerri

Four individuals are currently receiving medical treatment following a plane accident in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The affected aircraft, a Cessna 172 operated by Skypower Express, was involved in an incident that caused it to somersault at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri.

Providing confirmation of the incident on Tuesday, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed that the aircraft, registered as 5N-ASR, had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before the flight crew declared an emergency midair and redirected the plane to Owerri.

Details of the incident were made public in a statement signed by the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji.

The bureau stated that all four occupants were on board at the time of the accident and that no loss of life was recorded.

“Airport emergency response services were immediately activated and arrived at the scene promptly.

“Officials confirmed that there was no post-crash fire, and flight operations at the airport were not disrupted, as the runway remained active with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident,” Oladeji said.

She added that arrangements were underway to retrieve and relocate the damaged aircraft from the crash site to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of the wreckage.

In a related development, the Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., confirmed that the agency had initiated its investigative processes in line with its mandate.

“We express our deepest sympathies to the management of Skypower Express and are relieved that no fatalities have been reported so far. The NSIB has activated its protocols, and our team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the site,” he said.

Captain Badeh Jr. further stated that more updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.