Four persons were hospitalised on Tuesday following an aircraft accident in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The incident involved a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express, which reportedly somersaulted after an emergency landing at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.
Confirming the development, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said the aircraft, with registration number 5N-ASR, departed Kaduna International Airport for Port Harcourt before the flight crew declared an emergency midair and diverted to Owerri.
Details of the incident were contained in a statement signed by the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji.
The bureau said all four occupants on board the aircraft survived the accident and were receiving medical attention.
“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 had commenced to remove the damaged aircraft from the crash site to enable a detailed examination of the wreckage.
In a related statement, the Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the agency had commenced investigation into the incident in line with its statutory 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. assured that further updates would be released as the investigation unfolds.