Four Hospitalised as Skypower Express Plane Somersaults at Owerri Airport

|By Chinwendu Nwani

Four people are receiving medical attention following a plane accident involving a Skypower Express aircraft at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The aircraft, a Cessna 172 with registration number 5N-ASR, somersaulted after an emergency landing at the Owerri airport on Tuesday.

Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said the aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before the flight crew declared an emergency midair and diverted to Owerri.

In a statement signed by the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, the bureau disclosed that all four occupants were on board at the time of the accident and that no fatalities were recorded.

According to the NSIB, airport emergency response teams were immediately activated and promptly arrived at the scene. Officials also confirmed that there was no post-crash fire, while flight operations at the airport continued uninterrupted, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.

Oladeji added that arrangements were ongoing to recover and relocate the damaged aircraft to enable a detailed examination of the wreckage.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the agency had commenced a full investigation in line with its statutory mandate.

He expressed sympathy to the management of Skypower Express and relief that no lives were lost, noting that investigation protocols had been activated and coordination with relevant authorities was already underway to secure the accident site.

Captain Badeh Jr. said the bureau would provide further updates as the investigation progresses.