25th May, 2025
Residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were thrown into panic on Friday, May 23, 2025, following the emergency landing of a training aircraft belonging to the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident which occurred during a routine flight session.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education in the state, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, who reacted to the development, expressed relief that the mishap did not result in fatalities. She confirmed that the pilot and instructor involved were promptly taken to a hospital in Ilorin and are currently receiving treatment.
“We are grateful to God that the lives of the two occupants were preserved. The Kwara State Government remains committed to the safety and well-being of all residents,” Hajia Kawu said.
She also commended the quick intervention of the aviation college and emergency medical personnel, saying it reflected a high level of preparedness and professionalism. “The incident underscores the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols in our training institutions. A full investigation is already underway to establish the cause and prevent future occurrences,” she added.
In a related development, the Rector of the college, Captain Yakubu Okatahi, provided more insight into the incident. He said the crash occurred during a routine training exercise.
“Our instructor was on a training flight when the aircraft crash-landed. We thank God there were no casualties. Both the pilot and instructor were evacuated and underwent medical scans. They are stable,” Captain Okatahi stated.
He disclosed that the National Safety Investigation Bureau had already completed a preliminary investigation and left the scene, while engineers from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority also assessed the aircraft and declared the situation under control.
“The aircraft was damaged, but safety procedures worked as they should. We await the final report of the investigation,” he added.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has sent his best wishes to the injured and assured continued support for aviation safety and educational excellence in the state.
