A Cessna 172 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-ASR operated by Skypower Express crashed at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.
The incident occured at the approach area of Runway 17 at about 20:00 hours local time on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji,
According to the Bureau, the aircraft had four persons on board at the time of the accident, with no casualties reported so far.
The aircraft was en route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Owerri.
Following the occurrence, airport emergency services were successfully activated and arrived on site promptly.
The NSIB stated that reports indicated that there was no post-crash fire, and the runway remains active for flight operations, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.
The Bureau said it has officially activated its protocols in accordance with its mandate, as well as the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site to allow for a detailed wreckage examination.
Speaking on the accident, the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., stated, “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”.
The safety bureau added that further updates will be provided as investigation progresses.
