http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/10/29/nigeria.crash/index.html
ABUJA, Nigeria (CNN) — A Boeing 737 operated by Nigerian airline ADC crashed Sunday near the Abuja airport shortly after takeoff, airport and government officials told CNN.
The plane was still on fire at the edge of the runway, hours after it crashed around noon local time (6 a.m. ET).
It is believed to have been carrying at least 100 people and there may be some survivors, a senior source with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s office told CNN’s Jeff Koinange.
The aircraft was heading to the northern Nigerian state of Sokoto and may have been carrying the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammadu Maccido, the highest ranking official of the Muslim state, the senior source said.
According to ADC’s Web site, Flight 53 was scheduled to take off from Abuja at 10:35 a.m. local time and land in Sokoto one hour later.
Nigeria has a poor air safety record, with at least 11 crashes since 1995, killing more than 470 people.
On October 23, 2005, a Bellview Airlines plane went down in bad weather near Lagos, killing all 117 people on board.
An aircraft operated by Sosoliso Airlines crashed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on December 10, killing all 108 on board including many schoolchildren.
By: British Canuck - 30th October 2006 at 20:49
Very sad indeed… 🙁
By: kev35 - 30th October 2006 at 20:26
British Canuck.
“Sad end to another classic 737….”
Not nearly as sad an end as for all those passengers though…….
Regards,
kev35
By: British Canuck - 30th October 2006 at 19:29
Sad end to another classic 737….I must be old fashioned as I prefer the lines of the stubby 1st genertation 73’s over the later generation…and those loud crackin engines
By: Newforest - 30th October 2006 at 19:21
I think it was 5N-BFK.
Yes that’s right. MSN 22891/988 ex Thomsonfly, Air NZ, Midway A/L and started with US Airways as N323AU.
By: British Canuck - 30th October 2006 at 11:56
I think it was 5N-BFK.
By: Bmused55 - 30th October 2006 at 07:03
What is it with this part of the globe…..the weather?….older type airframes…. poor training….or a combination of all three?????
I’d say the latter.
Its a shame, but safety regulations, well all regulations over there actually, are not as tightly enforced. There is no doubt also an element of corruption within the governing body.
Consequently there is a questionable frequency on maintenance and suspect MEL adherance.
I’m not saying either is the case here, ADC may well hold to manufacturer recommended or better Maintenance schedules and be law abiding.
But what I cite has definately played its part in the plethora of accidents in that part of the world.
By: steve rowell - 30th October 2006 at 06:09
What is it with this part of the globe…..the weather?….older type airframes…. poor training….or a combination of all three?????
By: caz66 - 29th October 2006 at 19:28
Cheers Newforest , Don t fancy flying with them myself.
By: Newforest - 29th October 2006 at 19:26
11 Crashes since 1995 ? woah , sad news again today , Has anyone else got any info about them.
The airline owned by the Aviation Development Company was started in 1984 but did not commence flying operations until 1991. It suspended operations in 2000 for two years in order to re-capitalize. Planes operated in the past have included 707, 1-11’s, 727’s, DC-9, Tristar and an ATR.42.
By: caz66 - 29th October 2006 at 19:04
11 Crashes since 1995 ? woah , sad news again today , Has anyone else got any info about them.
By: Newforest - 29th October 2006 at 15:19
It is now confirmed that the Sultan was a victim and his son. Still no news of the possible survivors. Of the four 732’s operated by the airline, at least one was ex Britannia. 🙁
Now reported as seven survivors.
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October 29, 2006 at 2:25 pm