There was panic on Tuesday in the Oba Akran area of Ikeja, Lagos State as a light single-engine airplane burst into flames after crashing on the road.
The crash happened opposite the United Bank for Africa around 3.30 pm. It was learnt that only two persons, the pilot and a passenger, were on board.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, while confirming the incident, in a statement, said the aircraft, Jabiru J430, with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N- CCQ, operated by Air First Hospitality & Tours, “was on a test flight” when the incident happened.
The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NSIB, Tunji Oketunbi, said the agency had “commenced investigation into the accident.”
It was gathered that the crash sent the area into
panic following the explosion as residents were seen running helter-skelter as they scampered for safety.
A video of the incident that circulated online showed the aircraft crashing on the road and immediately bursting into flames.
The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, in a message to The PUNCH, said, “The crash occurred on Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, and no life was lost. Two persons were rescued with varying degrees of injury.”
The Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, when contacted about the crash, said, “The agency has activated its disaster response plan to the above incident which occurred around 4pm.”
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a white Hilux vehicle escaped being involved in the crash by whiskers. He said, “The passengers in the craft were rescued. The Hilux was coming after the craft, it escaped crashing into the fire.”
Another source said the aircraft hit a pole and struggled in the air before bursting into flames. Speaking at the scene of the crash, the Coordinator, South-West Zonal Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, said, “It’s a propeller engine. The search and rescue retrieved some personal belonging of the two
members.”
On his part, the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, who also visited the scene, described the situation as unfortunate, adding that policemen were immediately deployed to the scene to assist emergency responders.
