Private Jet with Four Onboard Crashes at Owerri Airport

A private jet operated by Skypower Express crashed on Tuesday evening while attempting to land at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, with four people onboard. The aircraft, a Cessna 172 with registration number 5N-ASR, reportedly crashed around 8:00 p.m. local time after declaring an in-flight emergency and diverting to Owerri from its original route.

The aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt before the crew declared the emergency and changed course. It crashed within the approach area of Runway 17. As of the time of filing this report, no fatalities had been confirmed.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said emergency responders were immediately activated and arrived promptly at the scene. In a statement issued by the Bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, the NSIB confirmed that there was no post-crash fire.

The Bureau added that airport operations were not significantly affected, as the runway remained operational and other flights continued normally after the incident. The Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed relief that no deaths had been reported and confirmed that investigation protocols had been activated in line with the Bureau’s statutory mandate.

He said investigators were already working with relevant authorities to secure the crash site and begin a detailed examination of the wreckage. Efforts are ongoing to recover and evacuate the aircraft, while further updates are expected as the investigation continues. Badeh extended sympathies to the management of Skypower Express and noted that the absence of fatalities was a positive outcome amid the incident.