JUST IN: Crew, passengers evacuated as Cessna 172 crashes at Owerri Airport
Skypower Express Cessna 172 aircraft, with registration number 5N-ASR, crashed on Tuesday evening while attempting to land at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.
The aircraft was en route from Kaduna to Port Harcourt when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Owerri. It reportedly struck the approach area of Runway 17 at about 8 p.m. and somersaulted on impact.
There was no fire outbreak and no fatalities were recorded in the incident, as all four occupants on board survived.
The crew and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and taken to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.
Reacting to the crash, the Nigeria Police Force, Airport Command, Lagos, confirmed an aviation incident involving a chartered aircraft at the Sam Mbakwe.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Airport Command, Lagos, ASP Mohammed Adeola explained how the incident happened.
He said, “On Tuesday, 16th December 2025, at approximately 6:58 p.m., a chartered aircraft with call sign ASR, registration number 5N-SKR, and aircraft type Cessna 172 (C-172), en route from Kaduna to Owerri, experienced a crash landing at the threshold of Runway 17. The aircraft sustained varying degrees of damage.
There were four crew members on board at the time of the occurrence. Upon receipt of the distress information, the airport police patrol units in collaboration with airport emergency response teams, were swiftly deployed to the scene. All occupants were successfully rescued. Two of the crew members were in stable condition, while the remaining two, who were initially unconscious, were immediately evacuated to the hospital where they are currently receiving medical attention.
“Airport operations remained uninterrupted, as the situation was promptly brought under control. The affected area remains under close monitoring to ensure continued safety and security, while relevant aviation authorities have commenced the necessary technical assessments in line with standard operating procedures.”
The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, CP Olufunke Ogunbode, commended the professionalism and rapid coordination of all responding agencies and reassured the public of the Command’s unshaken commitment to aviation safety, public security, and effective emergency response across all airports.
Responding also, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji said that recovery crew were evacuating the aircraft to allow for a detailed wreckage analysis. She stated that they would keep the public informed as the investigation progressed and would release findings once the probe was completed.
NSIB spokesperson said that they had launched a full investigation into the crash
Also, Director‑General of the NSIB,Captain Alex Badeh Jr, said that their team was on site coordinating with airport authorities and emergency services to secure the wreckage.
He added that they were grateful that there had been no fatalities among the four occupants, adding that they would conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause of the incident.(THE NATION)
