An Helicopter on Tuesday has crashed into buildings in Ikeja, Lagos State capital.
The aircraft burst into flames near the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), its destination.
It was learnt that two people believed to be the pilots of the helicopter have been rescued, it is however not clear how many passengers were on board the ill-fated chopper.
The incident occurred at about 1:41pm local time, adjacent AP Filling Station, and United Bank For Africa, Oba Akran.
Th ill fated J4 30 aircraft type with piston engine, it was learnt had only the pilot and a passenger onboard.
Motorist along with commuters scampered for safety as a result of the incident which resulted in traffic gridlock at the scene and adjourning roads.
According to report from air control tower, the aircraft operated by Air First Hospital and tour crashed from 1500 feet after leaving the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA.
The source also disclosed that the aircraft was coming in for an emergency landing but hit the light pole after making the circuit.
“There were two white men and two black men on board. Three craters on the spot created by impacts on the ground,” Ibrahim Farinloye of NEMA said.
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said: “We have activated our disaster response plan to the above incident which occurred around 1600hrs.
“A helicopter containing four persons including the pilot crash landed in front of the United Bank of Africa branch on the road.
“All four casualties have been retrieved from the aircraft alive. They have been transferred to hospital for further care.
The area has been cordoned off and is being blanketed to prevent a secondary incident. All Emergency Responders are on scene.”
Meanwhile, the management of Air Peace, has disclosed that the aircraft does not belong to them.
According to the airline spokesperson, Stanley Oliseh, “Our attention has been drawn to a tweet misinforming the public that the helicopter that crashed around Oba Akran, Ikeja, today, was an Air Peace aircraft.
“This is totally untrue and misleading as we do not have helicopters and none of our aircraft was involved in any crash. Air Peace operates Boeing 777s, Embraer 195-E2s, ERJ-145s, Dornier 328, Airbus 320s and Boeing 737s- no helicopter in our fleet.
“It is emphatically important people get their facts right before publishing. Members of the public are urged to disregard the tweet as it clearly misrepresents the Air Peace brand.”
WATCH VIDEOS BELOW:
TRENDING VIDEO: CCTV Footage Captures Moment Helicopter Crashes In Ikeja, Lagos pic.twitter.com/sP4XiyaQG3
— DAILY GIST (@dailygistonline) August 1, 2023
VIDEO: Helicopter Crashes Into Building In Lagos, Bursts Into Flames pic.twitter.com/aZldQkwhP1
— DAILY GIST (@dailygistonline) August 1, 2023
