Breaking News: Plane crashes in Nigeria killing passengers on board and people in houses below
By Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – It’s been a very tragic weekend for Nigeria as one of the planes belonging to Dana Airlines has just crashed at the Iju/Ishaga area of Agege in Lagos this afternoon.
pictures at the scene of the crash
The plane reportedly had 153 passengers on board and was en-route to Lagos from Abuja the nation’s capital. Eye witnesses say the plane crashed into nearby buildings and passengers as well as occupants of the house. The residents were being burnt to ashes at the scene of the crash.
Many houses have been affected and the number of casualties is unknown. However, rescue team are at the scene of the crash rendering some assistance.
scene at crash site
The accident occurred at Toyin Idzhu-Ishaga, near the airport, one of the densely populated residential areas in Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria.
people struggling to view list of passengers
Official manifest of passengers aboard the plane is yet to be made public. Witnesses report that before the aircraft crash landed, it was flying extremely low after which a strange loud sound like bomb explosion was heard. Authorities of Dana Airline say they are working with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and the Federal Airport Authority, FAAN to release the flight manifest.
There are indications that the Group General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Levi Ajunuoma was on the flight. Also reported to be in the Dana plane is Ehime Aikhomu, son of former Nigerian Vice President, Late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu. Unconfirmed reports indicate that former Kano State Governor and ANPP Presidential Candidate in the 2011 Presidential elections, Ibrahim Shekarau was among casualties of the Iju Plane crash. Ten bodies have been reportedly recovered from the 2- storey building with 4 others unconscious. Emergency management officials, Red Cross, military, police and air crash investigators are already on ground at the scene.
There are reports that the plane that crashed today was the same plane that had a landing gear problem in Uyo a couple of weeks ago. There are reports that the massive crowd around the scene of the crash is preventing the emergency team from carrying their duties.
