Two people sustained serious injuries on Thursday when a training aircraft crash-landed at Ilorin International Airport in Kwara State, during a simulated instrument approach exercise.
According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the incident occurred around 5:28 p.m. local time on May 23, 2025.
The bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, confirmed the crash in an official statement.
She revealed that the aircraft veered off Runway 05 and came to a halt on a grassy verge. Both occupants suffered serious injuries and were promptly evacuated to a medical facility, with support from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
In response, the NSIB announced that its Go-Team was being dispatched from Abuja to Ilorin to begin an in-depth investigation.
The team will secure the site, collect evidence, interview eyewitnesses, and retrieve operational data to determine the cause of the crash.
NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., extended his sympathies to the injured and applauded emergency responders for their swift actions. He emphasized the importance of the investigation in advancing aviation safety in Nigeria.
“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,” Badeh said. “Every investigation is an opportunity to improve safety.”
