BREAKING: 11 escape death as private jet crash-lands at Kano Airport

No fewer than 11 people escaped death on Sunday morning after a private jet made a hard landing at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

Eyewitnesses newsmen that all occupants of the aircraft, comprising passengers and cabin crew, were evacuated safely amid palpable tension at the airport.

The aircraft, a private jet operated by Flybird Aviation, reportedly encountered difficulties while attempting to land at about 9:30 a.m. The flight was said to be inbound to Kano before continuing to Abuja.

The development prompted an immediate emergency response, as rescue officials, airport personnel and other relevant agencies rushed to the runway to manage the situation and ensure the safety of those on board.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had not issued an official statement on the incident. However, unconfirmed reports indicated that the passengers were later moved from the airport to an undisclosed location.

Kano Airport has witnessed a number of aviation mishaps in the past, some of which resulted in loss of lives. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in May 2002 when an EAS Airlines aircraft veered off the runway at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport at about 1:29 p.m. while en route to Lagos.

The aircraft reportedly developed engine failure shortly after takeoff and crashed into the densely populated Gwammaja area, about 1.5 miles from the airport, killing at least 73 people on the ground.

Recall that on Thursday, May 23, 2025, a training aircraft crash-landed at the Ilorin International Airport, leaving two persons seriously injured.

According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the incident occurred at about 17:28 local time during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05.

Speaking on the development, the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, said the aircraft ran off the runway and stopped on a grassy area, causing serious injuries to both occupants.

“Both sustained serious injuries and were swiftly evacuated to a medical facility, coordinated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),” she said.

Oladeji further disclosed that the bureau had deployed a Go-Team from Abuja to Ilorin to carry out on-the-spot investigations, including securing the site, gathering physical evidence, interviewing witnesses and retrieving relevant operational data.

Quoting the Director-General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr, she added: “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. Every investigation is an opportunity to improve safety. We are deploying our team to Ilorin to ensure that no detail is overlooked.”