A chartered C-172 aircraft operated by Sky Power Kaduna, with registration number 5N-SKR, crashed at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA) in Owerri, Imo State, around 8 pm on Tuesday night. The plane, which was headed to Port Harcourt from Kaduna, made a crash landing at the threshold of Runway 17.

Four people were on board, and two of them suffered critical injuries, according to a Nigerian Civil Aviations Airport Authority (NCAA) staff who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity. The injured individuals were rushed to the Nigerian Air Force Hospital near the airport.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has been notified and has activated its protocols to investigate the incident. NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy for Skypower Express and stated that the agency is coordinating with authorities to secure the site.

Emergency services responded promptly, and there was no post-crash fire. The runway remains operational, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident. Efforts are underway to recover and evacuate the aircraft for further examination.