NIGERIA: At least 15 passengers are killed after an Embraer aircraft crashes in Lagos shortly after take-off
Record ID:
236202
NIGERIA: At least 15 passengers are killed after an Embraer aircraft crashes in Lagos shortly after take-off
- Title: NIGERIA: At least 15 passengers are killed after an Embraer aircraft crashes in Lagos shortly after take-off
- Date: 3rd October 2013
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (OCTOBER 3, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS PEOPLE AT CRASH SITE DEBRIS OF CRASHED PLANE RESCUERS AROUND CRASHED PLANE (SOUNDBITE) (English) YAKUBU DOTI, AIRPORTS AUTHORITY GENERAL MANAGER, SAYING: "We confirm today the crash of Embraer 120 of Associated Airlines near the premises besides the Murtala Muhammed international airport. The propeller aircraft marked (5BGY?) crashed around 9.32 am on its way to Akura with 20 passengers on board. The rescue operation commenced immediately with all the relevant agencies moving in mass to the crash site to rescue victims. And we can confirm to you that five of the victims have already been rushed to the hospital and all the agencies are already on ground to monitor and rescue victims." AIRPORT FIRE ENGINE
- Embargoed: 18th October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Accidents,General,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVACI8OP4CHDLX2XONX7RPC8KZRI
- Story Text: Fifteen people were killed when an Embraer passenger plane crashed shortly after take-off just outside Lagos airport's domestic terminal on Thursday (October 3), Nigerian authorities said.
Airports Authority general manager Yakubu Dati told journalists the plane was an Embraer 120, a Brazilian make.
The Associated Airlines plane was flying from Nigeria's commercial capital to Akure, a southwestern town about 140 miles (225 km) away.
"We confirm today the crash of Embraer 120 of Associated Airlines near the premises besides the Murtala Muhammed international airport. The propeller aircraft marked (5BGY?) crashed around 9.32 am on its way to Akura with 20 passengers on board. The rescue operation commenced immediately with all the relevant agencies moving in mass to the crash site to rescue victims. And we can confirm to you that five of the victims have already been rushed to the hospital and all the agencies are already on ground to monitor and rescue victims," Dati said.
He said he did not know the engine's maker. But a diplomatic source told Reuters the engine was a Pratt & Whitney Canada, a unit of United Technologies Corp, PW100.
Aviation Ministry spokesman Joe Obi had earlier said 27 people were on the plane but Lagos state emergency management agency chief Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu said at the site that in fact only 20 of the 27 seats were filled.
Several local radio stations and Channels TV reported that it was carrying a family and the body of former governor of Ondo state Olusegun Agagu to his funeral.
A Reuters reporter saw emergency workers bring out a coffin from the wreckage.
Air crashes are relatively common in Nigeria, which despite having Africa's second-biggest economy has a poor safety record.
In June last year, 163 people died when a Dana Air plane crashed into a Lagos apartment block in the country's worst airline disaster in two decades. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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