Two individuals sustained serious injuries in the Ilorin training aircraft crash that occurred at Ilorin International Airport on May 23, 2025. The Diamond aircraft, operated by the International Aviation College (IAC), veered off Runway 05 during a simulated instrument approach and came to rest on a grass verge.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, confirmed the incident took place at 17:28 local time. She added that the injured were swiftly evacuated to a nearby medical facility with coordination from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Reacting to the occurrence, the Management of International Aviation College expressed shock and concern over the accident involving the training aircraft with registration number BNI. In a statement issued on the evening of the crash, the College noted:
“To the Glory of God the Almighty, the Flight Instructor and the Student on board are presently receiving treatment at the hospital. Both are stable and responding to treatment.”
In response, the NSIB has dispatched a Go-Team from Abuja to the site of the crash. The team will secure the wreckage, collect on-site physical evidence, conduct interviews with eyewitnesses, and retrieve relevant flight data. Their goal is to determine both the cause and contributing factors behind the incident.
Director General Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., shared his thoughts following the emergency.
“Our thoughts are with the injured, and we commend the swift medical and emergency response. Now, our focus is on understanding exactly what went wrong. Every investigation is an opportunity to improve safety. We are deploying our team to Ilorin to ensure that no detail is overlooked.”
The Bureau has appealed to the public and media to avoid unverified speculation and instead wait for factual updates. The NSIB reaffirmed its commitment to a thorough, independent, and professional investigation to support enhanced safety protocols within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The Ilorin training aircraft crash has raised renewed focus on the risks associated with training flights. These missions, while essential to pilot development, require high levels of oversight and precaution.
As the investigation progresses, the NSIB has promised transparency and regular updates. The public can expect findings to be released in accordance with established procedures.
