A passenger aircraft operated by Skypower Express has crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, involved four persons onboard, all of whom survived the emergency.
Timeline of the Owerri Aircraft Crash
The ill-fated flight was a Cessna 172 aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR. It had originally taken off from Kaduna International Airport, heading for Port Harcourt International Airport. However, during the flight, the crew declared an emergency, prompting a diversion to Owerri.
The crash happened at approximately 8:00 pm on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, within the airport premises. The aircraft came down in the approach area of Runway 17. Confirming the occurrence, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), stated that the agency was officially notified.
Emergency Response and Initial Findings
Following the crash, the airport's emergency services were swiftly activated and responded promptly to the site. Preliminary reports provided a significant relief: there was no post-crash fire, and critically, no fatalities were recorded among the four passengers and crew members.
The runway remained operational after the incident, with other aircraft taking off safely. The NSIB confirmed that efforts are currently focused on coordinating the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site. This move is essential to allow for a detailed examination of the wreckage as part of the official investigation.
Official Investigation and Recent Context
The NSIB has activated its full investigation protocols in line with its statutory mandate. The Director-General of the Bureau, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy to the management of Skypower Express. He also conveyed relief that no lives were lost in the accident.
Badeh Jr. added that the Bureau's investigation team is already on the ground, coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the crash site and commence a thorough probe into the cause. This incident comes just two days after another aviation scare in the country.
On Sunday morning, a private jet operated by Flybird Aviation crash-landed at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Eleven persons, including passengers and crew, narrowly escaped death and were safely evacuated. That incident, which occurred at about 9:30 a.m., also attracted a swift emergency response, though the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is yet to issue an official statement.
The back-to-back incidents have brought renewed focus on aviation safety protocols and emergency preparedness within Nigeria's air transport sector.
