Aircraft Crashes Near Owerri Airport After Mid-Air Emergency as NSIB Launches Investigation, No Casualties Reported

A light aircraft operated by Skypower Express crashed near Runway 17 of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, after declaring a mid-air emergency on Tuesday evening. The Cessna 172, which was en route from Kaduna to Port Harcourt before diverting to Owerri, went down around 8pm, prompting an immediate response from airport emergency services. Authorities confirmed that all four occupants on board survived without serious injuries and that no post-crash fire occurred. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced a full investigation and is coordinating efforts to recover the aircraft for detailed examination while airport operations continue uninterrupted.