How Light Engine Aircraft Crashed In Ikeja Area Of Lagos

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

There was disruption in commercial activities around Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, on Tuesday afternoon as an unidentified light engine aircraft crash landed in the area. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the crash happened around 3.30pm on the busy Oba Akran Avenue, between the AP Filling Station and a commercial bank, UBA at Ikeja.

According to an eye witness who spoke to our correspondent, people who went to do transactions at the various banks around the area scampered for safety when they saw the aircraft coming very low before it eventually crashed. Vehicles, which were on the road, quickly sped off on sighting the aircraft at very low level.

Speaking to our correspondent, one of the first responders, Femi Oluwafemi, said, “I was close to the scene and suddenly I saw people scampering for safety. I then looked up and saw the aircraft hit the street light on the median before the first UBA. By the time it hit the second street light, it came down before finally crashing between the AP Filling Station and the second UBA”.

“We saw that people were inside the small aircraft and we rushed to help them out of the flames. They sustained injuries but they survived the crash” Femi said.

Comrade Samson Alebiosu, the Anifowoshe Community Youth Leader, who was at the scene, said that they rushed to help when they heard the bang. He praised the courage of the young people who raced to help the victims.

Officers of the Lagos State Fire Service, LASEMA, RRS, Civil Defence Corps, LASTMA, FAAN were all on ground at the scene to ensure that the fire did not spread as a petrol filling station and Sun Gas station were just metres away from the scene.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, visited the scene to ascertain the level of damage.

The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also visited the scene of the incident.

The crashed light engine piston aircraft, a turbo 5N-CCQ, with four passengers on board, was said to be on test flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA) and was operated by Air First Hospital.