The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a comprehensive investigation following the crash-landing of a Diamond DA42 aircraft operated by the International Aviation College, Ilorin. The mishap occurred on Friday, May 23, 2025, at approximately 5:28 p.m., during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 of the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Kwara State.
The aircraft, which was on a training flight, veered off the runway and skidded into a grassy area, leaving its two occupants injured. Thankfully, there were no fatalities. The victims, both aviation trainees, were swiftly evacuated to a nearby medical facility where one of them underwent an MRI scan. As of the latest update, they remain conscious, stable, and are responding well to treatment.
In a statement released on Saturday, Bimbo Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at NSIB, confirmed that a full-scale investigation had commenced. The agency’s Director General, Captain Alex Badeh, visited the crash site in person to oversee the initial findings and boost the morale of the investigation team.
“Our investigators are already on-site. The aircraft had veered off the left side of the runway, but recovery operations are almost complete,” Captain Badeh disclosed. He confirmed that the aircraft’s flight data card had been recovered and was currently undergoing analysis at the Bureau’s state-of-the-art Transport Safety Laboratory.
He emphasized the importance of the investigation, stating, “Our role isn’t just to find out what happened — but to understand how and why it happened, and more critically, to ensure it never happens again. Every accident is a lesson, and our priority is always to turn tragedy into progress.”
He extended his thoughts to the injured individuals and praised the swift and coordinated emergency response by airport and medical personnel. “This is not just about accountability; it’s about safeguarding the lives of future aviators,” Badeh added.
The NSIB appealed to the public and media to avoid speculation and await official updates. “We remain committed to a thorough, professional, and transparent investigation that will contribute to improving aviation safety standards in Nigeria,” the Bureau stated.
Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) issued a circular confirming the incident. According to the statement, the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BNI, “skidded off Runway 05 at 18:31hrs local time before coming to a halt on the grassy verge.”
FAAN confirmed the aircraft was recovered and towed back to the International Aviation College premises after NSIB concluded its preliminary assessments.
“Normal flight operations have resumed at General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport,” FAAN assured, noting that safety and preventive protocols are being reviewed.
This latest incident highlights the critical need for robust safety oversight and the importance of continual training, even in controlled simulations. All eyes are now on NSIB’s final report, expected to provide pivotal insights into the causes and preventive measures for such incidents moving forward.
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