A Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express has been involved in an accident at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, with all four passengers on board surviving the occurrence. The Cessna 172 aircraft, bearing Nigerian nationality and registration marks 5N-ASR, crashed on the evening of 16 December 2025 at about 20:00 local time. Importantly, there were no fatalities, a development that has drawn relief across the aviation community.
The Cessna 172 aircraft was initially operating a domestic flight from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport. However, during the en-route phase, the flight crew encountered a situation that required an emergency declaration. Consequently, the pilot diverted to Owerri as a precautionary measure. According to information released by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, the aircraft crashed while on approach to Runway 17 at the Owerri airport.
Providing details of the occurrence, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the bureau, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, confirmed that the Cessna 172 aircraft came down in the runway approach area. She noted that four persons were on board at the time of the accident and that none sustained fatal injuries. Meanwhile, the circumstances that led to the emergency declaration remain a key focus of the ongoing investigation.
Emergency response at the airport was swift and effective. Once the accident occurred, airport rescue and firefighting services were immediately activated and arrived at the scene within a short time. Reports from the scene indicate that there was no post-crash fire involving the Cessna 172 aircraft, a factor that significantly reduced the risk to occupants and responders. In addition, the runway was not obstructed by the wreckage, allowing flight operations to continue without prolonged disruption.
Airport authorities confirmed that other aircraft were able to depart safely after the incident, underscoring the effectiveness of the emergency coordination. Nevertheless, recovery operations are ongoing to evacuate the distressed Cessna 172 aircraft from the crash site. This step is necessary to enable investigators to conduct a detailed wreckage examination, which will form a crucial part of the safety inquiry.
In line with its statutory mandate, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has formally activated its accident investigation protocols. The Director General of the bureau, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., stated that the agency had deployed personnel to secure the site and commence technical work. He expressed sympathy with the management of Skypower Express while also welcoming the fact that no lives were lost in the accident involving the Cessna 172 aircraft.
“We express our deepest sympathies to the management of Skypower Express and are glad that no fatalities have been reported so far. The NSIB has activated its protocols, and our team is already coordinating with authorities to secure the site.
As the investigation progresses, further updates are expected from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
