A passenger aircraft somersaulted upon landing at a major airport in South-East Nigeria, causing panic and sending four people to the hospital. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has officially confirmed the aviation accident.
NSIB Confirms Aircraft Accident in Imo State
The incident involved a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by the airline Skypower Express. It occurred at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
Bimbo Oladeji, the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance for the NSIB, disclosed the development in an official statement released on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The statement provided the first official details of the alarming event.
Flight Path and Emergency Diversion
According to the investigation bureau's preliminary report, the aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR was not originally scheduled to land in Owerri. It was on a flight from Kaduna International Airport to the Port Harcourt International Airport.
During the flight, the crew declared an in-flight emergency. This critical situation forced them to divert from their intended route and attempt an emergency landing at the nearest suitable airport, which was Sam Mbakwe in Owerri.
Four Occupants Hospitalised After Somersault
The emergency landing did not go as planned. Reports indicate that the aircraft somersaulted on the runway upon touching down. The impact and the violent nature of the accident led to injuries among those on board.
Four of the occupants sustained injuries significant enough to require immediate medical attention. They were promptly rushed from the airport scene to a hospital for treatment. The current condition of the injured persons has not been fully disclosed by authorities.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has likely launched a full-scale inquiry to determine the exact cause of the in-flight emergency and the subsequent accident during landing. The focus will be on factors such as mechanical failure, weather conditions, and pilot response.
Safety Scrutiny for Nigerian Aviation
This accident at Owerri airport brings renewed attention to aviation safety protocols and emergency response measures at Nigerian airports. While the NSIB's swift confirmation aids in transparency, the event underscores the ever-present risks in air travel.
The public and aviation stakeholders will be awaiting the bureau's final report, which will include findings and crucial safety recommendations to prevent a recurrence of such a dangerous incident.
