There was pandemonium at Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, Lagos State yesterday when a private helicopter crashed into a building, triggering an immediate burst of flames upon impact.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:40 pm in close proximity to the AP petrol station and United Bank of Nigeria at Oba Akran.
No life was lost at the time of filing this report.
The helicopter was reportedly attempting an emergency landing, but during the maneuver, it collided with a light pole, leading to the catastrophic crash. The aircraft, which had a fuel endurance of five hours, suffered significant damage upon impact.
Swift and coordinated efforts from multiple emergency services were seen at the crash site. Responders from the Lagos Fire Service, Rescue Service, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMAN), and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) arrived promptly to manage the situation.
Remarkably, the joint efforts of the emergency teams led to the successful rescue of four individuals from the wreckage. These survivors were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are currently in stable condition and receiving necessary medical attention. Their positive response to treatment has been reassuring to medical personnel.
In light of misinformation circulating on social media, Air Peace, a well-known airline, has issued a statement confirming that the crashed helicopter does not belong to their fleet. Air Peace spokesperson, Stanley Oliseh, addressed the misinformation, stating, “We want to clarify that the helicopter involved in the crash around Oba Akran, Ikeja, today, was not an Air Peace aircraft. The tweet suggesting our involvement is unequivocally false. Our fleet consists of Boeing 777s, Embraer 195-E2s, ERJ-145s, Dornier 328, Airbus 320s, and Boeing 737s—no helicopters.”
Oliseh emphasized the importance of verifying facts before disseminating information and urged the public to disregard the misleading tweet.
As investigations into the crash continue, authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the incident and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
