Four hospitalised as aircraft somersaults at Owerri airport

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau on Tuesday confirmed an accident involving a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji.

PUNCH Online gathered that all four occupants of the aircraft were hospitalised following the incident.

NSIB officials said the aircraft, with registration number 5N-ASR, was en route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew declared an in-flight emergency and diverted to Owerri.

Both the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria were yet to comment on the incident.

Calls placed to their spokespersons, Michael Achimugu and Henry Agbebire, went unanswered, and text messages for clarification were not replied to at the time of filing this report.

Sources said the victims had been taken to a hospital, although their health status could not be independently confirmed.

An airport worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, told our correspondent that she was unsure of the victims’ exact whereabouts but noted that “they appeared to have been taken to the hospital.”

PUNCH Online gathered that the accident occurred around 8:00 pm on Tuesday during the aircraft’s approach to Runway 17, where it crash-landed and somersaulted.

According to the NSIB, four persons were on board at the time of the accident, and no fatalities have been reported.

“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 efforts were ongoing to recover and evacuate the damaged aircraft from the crash site to enable a detailed examination of the wreckage.

In the statement, the Director-General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the bureau had activated its investigation protocols 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. added that further information would be released as the investigation progresses.(Punch)