Nigeria Airways
Encyclopedia
Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, is a defunct Nigeria
n airline
. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation
. It was wholly owned by the Government of Nigeria, and served as the country's flag carrier
. The airline was headquartered in Abuja
. Nigeria Airways operated under the IATA airline code WT and the ICAO airline code NGA; the carrier's callsign was NIGERIA. The airline logo consisted of the Nigerian flag
with a green elephant named Skypower in its centre.
The airline was managed by a number of foreign companies, including British Airways
, KLM and South African Airways
. It had its heyday in the early 1980s
, just after a KLM team two-year-management period; at that time its fleet comprised about 30 aircraft. It ceased operations in 2003. Plagued of mis-management
, corruption
, and overstaffing, at the time of closure the airline had debts for more than US$
60 million, a poor safety record, and its operative fleet comprised a single aircraft flying domestic routes as well as two leased aircraft operating the international network. It was succeeded by Virgin Nigeria.
(WAAC). Operations started on . WAAC Nigeria inherited the assets and liabilities of WAAC. Initially the airline was a tripartite entity in which the Nigerian government, BOAC
, and Elder Dempster Line all had a participation. The Nigerian Government held a controlling interest of 51% of the shares that was boosted to a 100% on . On , the company was rebranded as Nigeria Airways.
. The International Finance Corporation
(IFC) was commissioned by the Nigerian Government in 2000 to assist in the process of reestructuration and privatisation of the airline. Among three options, one of them was to partner with a large Europe
an airline; Air France
, Lufthansa
and Swissair
were all considered. Other option was to liquidate the carrier. A fleet comprising 32 aircraft in 1984 gradually depleted to a three-strong at that time. The IFC withdrew from its advisory position in 2001 citing the unwillingness of both the company and the government to carry out the necessary measures that would make the airline attractive to potential investors. Likewise, there were various allegations claiming the airline's failure was accelerated by former Nigerian rulers who loot
ed and mismanaged the company.
In 1997 the UK Civil Aviation Authority banned the airline from operating into its territory citing safety concerns; the Nigerian government replied banning British Airways
operations. The United Kingdom cited safety concerns again in 2001 when it refused to allow Nigeria Airways to operate the Lagos–London route, this time regarding the Boeing 747
that was leased from Air Djibouti
to fly the route.
The carrier ceased operations in 2003. The Nigerian government later came to an agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways
to found Virgin Nigeria Airways
, intended as a replacement, yet the ground facilities of the folded Nigeria Airways were eventually taken over by Arik Air
. Terminal pension benefits for liquidated staff were greatly underpaid compared with their counterpart overseas who promptly took the federal government to court.
, Kano
, Lagos
and Port Harcourt; likewise, the international network comprised Abidjan
, Dubai
, Jeddah
, London
and New York
.
using a Comet 4B
. During the 1960s
, it also operated the Douglas DC-3
on internal routes, followed by the turboprop
Fokker Friendship and the jetliner
Boeing 737
in later years.
BOAC operated VC10 services on behalf of Nigeria Airways from April 1964 until an aircraft of the type was acquired from the British
state airline in October 1969; the airplane was destroyed in an accident in November that year and a new Boeing 707
entered the fleet in 1971 intended as its replacement. In the interim, Boeing 707s were leased mostly to serve the Lagos–London route.
The Douglas DC-10-30 was introduced in 1976, and the Airbus A310
in 1983. The carrier operated the last DC-10 ever built, on lease from World Airways
. Boeing 747-200s were used while the A310s were on order.
records 16 accidents/incidents for the airline, eight of which led to fatalities.
5N-ABD, flying the London
–Rome
–Kano
–Lagos
route, crashed on its last leg during approach to Ikeja International Airport after hitting trees. All 87 occupants of the aircraft perished in the accident. The airplane involved had been sold to Nigeria Airways by BOAC less than two months prior to the occurrence of the accident.: A Boeing 707-3D3C
, tail number
JY-ADO, charter
ed from Alia Royal Jordanian Airlines and operated on behalf of Nigeria Airways during the Hajj
season, skidded off the runway and caught fire soon after one of the two main gear
s collapsed on landing at Kano International Airport. The aircraft was due to fly the Jeddah
–Lagos route, but it was diverted to Kano because of the weather. There were 202 people on board; 176 perished in the accident.: A Fokker F-28-1000, registration 5N-ANA, operating a domestic scheduled Sokoto
–Kano service, collided short before touchdown
at the destination airport with a Nigerian Air Force
Mig-21U trainer
; as a result 18 fatalities were recorded, of whom 16 were occupants of the civil aircraft.: A Fokker F-28-2000, tail number 5N-ANF, that operated a domestic scheduled Lagos–Enugu
passenger service, crashed in poor visibility 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) short of the runway on a steep approach to Enugu Airport and caught fire. The death toll
for the accident rose to 53.: Flight 2120
, a chartered Douglas DC-8-61 from the Canadian company Nationair, registration C-GMXQ, caught fire and crashed shortly after take-off from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
. The aircraft was flying pilgrim
s back to Sokoto, during the Hajj
season. There were no survivors among the 261 occupants, 247 of whom were passengers. This was the deadliest accident experienced by the company all through its history.
: A Boeing 707-3F9C
, 5N-ABK, that was operating Flight 9805, a cargo service between Jeddah and Kano, crashed near Kiri Kasama
, Nigeria, after smoke in the cockpit was reported. Three people lost their lives.: Flight 357 was a domestic scheduled Yola
–Jos
–Kaduna
–Lagos passenger service, operated with a Boeing 737-2F9, tail number 5N-AUA, that experienced a wing strike following a tailwind
landing at Kaduna Airport
, inbound from Jos. When the right wing hit the ground after the aircraft veered off left of the runway, the fuel tanks resulted damaged and a fire broke out. The fire completely engulfed the fuselage. Out of 138 occupants of the aircraft, 11 passengers lost their lives.
ed en route from Lagos to Abuja
. The hijackers demanded the resignation of the Nigeria's government and to be flown to Frankfurt
. The aircraft was denied permission to land in N'Djamena
, and was diverted to the Niamey airport
for refuelling. It was stormed by Niger
ien commando
s 4 days later; the co-pilot was killed during the operation.
conditions at Jos Airport, a Fokker F-27-200, registration 5N-AAX, swerved off the runway and hit heaps of gravel
.: A Fokker F-28-1000, tail number PH-FPT, ran off the runway while landing at Port Harcourt Airport.: A Fokker F27-200, registration 5N-AAW, crash-landed at Sokoto Airport
.: A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, tail number 5N-ANR, overshoot the runway and caught fire at Ilorin Airport on a training flight.: A Boeing 737-2F9
, registration 5N-ANW, ran past the runway after landing in heavy rain at Port Harcourt Airport; nosegear and starboard main gear both collapsed.: A Boeing 737-2F9, registration 5N-ANX, had its nosegear collapsed following overrunning on the wet runway at Ikeja International Airport.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation
West African Airways Corporation
West African Airways Corporation, or WAAC for short, was a 12-year lived airline jointly owned and operated by four West African governments of the British Empire, namely The Gambia, the Gold Coast , Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. The carrier was headquartered at the Airways House in Ikeja, Nigeria,...
. It was wholly owned by the Government of Nigeria, and served as the country's flag carrier
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
. The airline was headquartered in Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
. Nigeria Airways operated under the IATA airline code WT and the ICAO airline code NGA; the carrier's callsign was NIGERIA. The airline logo consisted of the Nigerian flag
Flag of Nigeria
The Flag of Nigeria was designed in 1959 and first officially hoisted on October 1, 1960.The two unique sea-green bands represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of Nigeria while the white band represents peace....
with a green elephant named Skypower in its centre.
The airline was managed by a number of foreign companies, including British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, KLM and South African Airways
South African Airways
South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International...
. It had its heyday in the early 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, just after a KLM team two-year-management period; at that time its fleet comprised about 30 aircraft. It ceased operations in 2003. Plagued of mis-management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, corruption
Corruption
Corruption usually refers to spiritual or moral impurity.Corruption may also refer to:* Corruption , an American crime film* Corruption , a British horror film...
, and overstaffing, at the time of closure the airline had debts for more than US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
60 million, a poor safety record, and its operative fleet comprised a single aircraft flying domestic routes as well as two leased aircraft operating the international network. It was succeeded by Virgin Nigeria.
History
Early years
The airline came into being under the name West African Airways Corporation Nigeria Limited (WAAC Nigeria) on , to succeed the folded West African Airways CorporationWest African Airways Corporation
West African Airways Corporation, or WAAC for short, was a 12-year lived airline jointly owned and operated by four West African governments of the British Empire, namely The Gambia, the Gold Coast , Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. The carrier was headquartered at the Airways House in Ikeja, Nigeria,...
(WAAC). Operations started on . WAAC Nigeria inherited the assets and liabilities of WAAC. Initially the airline was a tripartite entity in which the Nigerian government, BOAC
British Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
, and Elder Dempster Line all had a participation. The Nigerian Government held a controlling interest of 51% of the shares that was boosted to a 100% on . On , the company was rebranded as Nigeria Airways.
Demise
The carrier had accumulated significant debts that outstripped its revenues virtually from the mid-1980s1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
. The International Finance Corporation
International Finance Corporation
The International Finance Corporation promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries.IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States....
(IFC) was commissioned by the Nigerian Government in 2000 to assist in the process of reestructuration and privatisation of the airline. Among three options, one of them was to partner with a large Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an airline; Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
, Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
and Swissair
Swissair
Swissair AG was the former national airline of Switzerland.It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero , in 1931...
were all considered. Other option was to liquidate the carrier. A fleet comprising 32 aircraft in 1984 gradually depleted to a three-strong at that time. The IFC withdrew from its advisory position in 2001 citing the unwillingness of both the company and the government to carry out the necessary measures that would make the airline attractive to potential investors. Likewise, there were various allegations claiming the airline's failure was accelerated by former Nigerian rulers who loot
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
ed and mismanaged the company.
In 1997 the UK Civil Aviation Authority banned the airline from operating into its territory citing safety concerns; the Nigerian government replied banning British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
operations. The United Kingdom cited safety concerns again in 2001 when it refused to allow Nigeria Airways to operate the Lagos–London route, this time regarding the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
that was leased from Air Djibouti
Air Djibouti
Air Djibouti, also known as Red Sea Airlines, was the national airline of Djibouti between 1963 and 2002.-History:Air Djibouti was established in 1962 as Air Somali. Operations commenced in April 1963 under the Air Djibouti name, and in the 1960s the airline operated Douglas DC-3s, a Beechcraft...
to fly the route.
The carrier ceased operations in 2003. The Nigerian government later came to an agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited is a British airline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines...
to found Virgin Nigeria Airways
Virgin Nigeria Airways
Air Nigeria , is the national flag carrier of Nigeria. The airline operates scheduled regional and domestic passenger services. Its base is Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. The airline is a replacement for defunct Nigeria Airways...
, intended as a replacement, yet the ground facilities of the folded Nigeria Airways were eventually taken over by Arik Air
Arik Air
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. It is also the national carrier of Sierra Leone. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja...
. Terminal pension benefits for liquidated staff were greatly underpaid compared with their counterpart overseas who promptly took the federal government to court.
Destinations
At the time of closure the Nigeria Airways network consisted of four domestic destinations, namely AbujaAbuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
, Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
and Port Harcourt; likewise, the international network comprised Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Fleet
Nigeria Airways operated services to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
using a Comet 4B
De Havilland Comet
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design...
. During the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, it also operated the Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
on internal routes, followed by the turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
Fokker Friendship and the jetliner
Jetliner
Jetliner are an alternative rock band from the USA. They focus on melodic piano based rock and have been compared to Queen and early Elton John, being heavily influenced by early 70s rock. Composed of Adam Paskowitz of The Flys, son of Doc Paskowitz, on piano and lead vocals, Jeff Kluesner on...
Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
in later years.
BOAC operated VC10 services on behalf of Nigeria Airways from April 1964 until an aircraft of the type was acquired from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
state airline in October 1969; the airplane was destroyed in an accident in November that year and a new Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
entered the fleet in 1971 intended as its replacement. In the interim, Boeing 707s were leased mostly to serve the Lagos–London route.
The Douglas DC-10-30 was introduced in 1976, and the Airbus A310
Airbus A310
The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engine widebody jet airliner. Launched in July 1978, it was the second aircraft created by Airbus Industrie,a consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. the consortium of...
in 1983. The carrier operated the last DC-10 ever built, on lease from World Airways
World Airways
World Airways, Inc. is an American airline headquartered at the HLH Building in Peachtree City, Georgia. For the most part, the company operates non-scheduled services. Its main aircraft and maintenance base is Tampa International Airport.-History:...
. Boeing 747-200s were used while the A310s were on order.
Historic Fleet
The airline operated the following equipment throughout its history:- Airbus A310-200
- AztecPiper Aztec-Accidents and incidents:*On 18 April 1974, Aztec G-AYDE was involved in a ground collision with BAC One-Eleven G-AXMJ at London Luton Airport after the pilot of the Aztec entered the active runway without clearance. He was killed and his passenger was injured...
- Boeing 377 StratocruiserBoeing 377 StratocruiserThe Boeing 377, also called the Stratocruiser, was a large long range airliner which was built after World War II. It was developed from the C-97 Stratofreighter, a military derivative of the B-29 Superfortress used for troop transport...
- Boeing 707-320CBoeing 707The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
- Boeing 727-200
- Boeing 737-200
- Boeing 737-200 Advanced
- Boeing 737-200C
- Boeing 747-100
- Boeing 747-200
- Boeing 747-300
- Boeing 767-200
- Comet 4De Havilland CometThe de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design...
- Fokker F27-200
- Fokker F27-400
- Fokker F-28-1000
- Fokker F-28-2000
- Fokker F-28-4000
- Douglas C-47
- Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
- Vickers VC-10
Accidents and incidents
Aviation Safety NetworkAviation Safety Network
-External links:**...
records 16 accidents/incidents for the airline, eight of which led to fatalities.
Accidents involving fatalities
: This was both the first hull-loss and fatal accident experienced by the carrier, when a Vickers VC-10-1101, registrationAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
5N-ABD, flying the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
–Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
–Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
–Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
route, crashed on its last leg during approach to Ikeja International Airport after hitting trees. All 87 occupants of the aircraft perished in the accident. The airplane involved had been sold to Nigeria Airways by BOAC less than two months prior to the occurrence of the accident.: A Boeing 707-3D3C
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
, tail number
Tail number
A tail number refers to an identification number painted on an aircraft, frequently on the tail.Tail numbers can represent:* An aircraft registration number * United States military aircraft serials-See also:...
JY-ADO, charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
ed from Alia Royal Jordanian Airlines and operated on behalf of Nigeria Airways during the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
season, skidded off the runway and caught fire soon after one of the two main gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
s collapsed on landing at Kano International Airport. The aircraft was due to fly the Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
–Lagos route, but it was diverted to Kano because of the weather. There were 202 people on board; 176 perished in the accident.: A Fokker F-28-1000, registration 5N-ANA, operating a domestic scheduled Sokoto
Sokoto
Sokoto is a city located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of 427,760...
–Kano service, collided short before touchdown
Landing
thumb|A [[Mute Swan]] alighting. Note the ruffled feathers on top of the wings indicate that the swan is flying at the [[Stall |stall]]ing speed...
at the destination airport with a Nigerian Air Force
Nigerian Air Force
The Nigerian Air Force is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces.It is one of the largest in West Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft including 15 Chengdu F-7s, and 24 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, armed helicopters, and military transport aircraft. However in recent years...
Mig-21U trainer
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
; as a result 18 fatalities were recorded, of whom 16 were occupants of the civil aircraft.: A Fokker F-28-2000, tail number 5N-ANF, that operated a domestic scheduled Lagos–Enugu
Enugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu...
passenger service, crashed in poor visibility 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) short of the runway on a steep approach to Enugu Airport and caught fire. The death toll
Death Toll
Death Toll is a 2008 action film starring DMX, Lou Diamond Phillips, Leila Arcieri and Keshia Knight Pulliam, written and produced by Daniel Garcia of the rap group Kane & Abel and directed by Phenomenon...
for the accident rose to 53.: Flight 2120
Nigeria Airways Flight 2120
Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 refers to a Douglas DC-8-61, registration C-GMXQ, owned by the Canadian company Nolisair and wet-leased to Nigeria Airways, which in turn sub-leased the aircraft to another company to transport Nigerian pilgrims to and from Mecca, that crashed at King Abdulaziz...
, a chartered Douglas DC-8-61 from the Canadian company Nationair, registration C-GMXQ, caught fire and crashed shortly after take-off from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. The aircraft was flying pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s back to Sokoto, during the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
season. There were no survivors among the 261 occupants, 247 of whom were passengers. This was the deadliest accident experienced by the company all through its history.
: A Boeing 707-3F9C
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
, 5N-ABK, that was operating Flight 9805, a cargo service between Jeddah and Kano, crashed near Kiri Kasama
Kiri Kasama
Kiri Kasama is a Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kiri Kasama.It has an area of 797 km² and a population of 191,523 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 731....
, Nigeria, after smoke in the cockpit was reported. Three people lost their lives.: Flight 357 was a domestic scheduled Yola
Yola, Nigeria
Yola is the capital city and administrative center of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Located on the Benue River, it has a population of 88,500 . Established in 1841, Yola was the capital of a Fulani state until it was taken by the British in 1901. Daytime temperatures can easily exceed during the dry...
–Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
–Kaduna
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
–Lagos passenger service, operated with a Boeing 737-2F9, tail number 5N-AUA, that experienced a wing strike following a tailwind
Tailwind
A tailwind is a wind that blows in the direction of travel of an object, while a headwind blows against the direction of travel. A tailwind increases the object's speed and reduces the time required to reach its destination, while a headwind has the opposite effect...
landing at Kaduna Airport
Kaduna Airport
Kaduna Airport is an airport serving Kaduna, a city in the Kaduna State of Nigeria. The airport consists of a single terminal.Kaduna also has an older airport located southeast of this newer airport.)-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
, inbound from Jos. When the right wing hit the ground after the aircraft veered off left of the runway, the fuel tanks resulted damaged and a fire broke out. The fire completely engulfed the fuselage. Out of 138 occupants of the aircraft, 11 passengers lost their lives.
Incidents involving fatalities
: An Airbus A310-222 was hijackAircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
ed en route from Lagos to Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
. The hijackers demanded the resignation of the Nigeria's government and to be flown to Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. The aircraft was denied permission to land in N'Djamena
N'Djamena
N'Djamena is the capital and largest city of Chad. A port on the Chari River, near the confluence with the Logone River, it directly faces the Cameroonian town of Kousséri, to which the city is connected by a bridge. It is also a special statute region, divided in 10 arrondissements. It is a...
, and was diverted to the Niamey airport
Diori Hamani International Airport
Diori Hamani International Airport is an airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger. It is located in the south eastern suburbs of the city, along the Route Nationale 1, the major highway linking Niamey with the east of the nation. The airport complex also includes the major base for the Armed Forces...
for refuelling. It was stormed by Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
ien commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
s 4 days later; the co-pilot was killed during the operation.
Non-fatal hull-losses
: Following a rejected take-off in crosswindCrosswind
A crosswind is any wind that has a perpendicular component to the line or direction of travel. In aviation, a crosswind is the component of wind that is blowing across the runway making landings and take-offs more difficult than if the wind were blowing straight down the runway...
conditions at Jos Airport, a Fokker F-27-200, registration 5N-AAX, swerved off the runway and hit heaps of gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
.: A Fokker F-28-1000, tail number PH-FPT, ran off the runway while landing at Port Harcourt Airport.: A Fokker F27-200, registration 5N-AAW, crash-landed at Sokoto Airport
Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport
Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport or Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport is an airport serving Sokoto, a city in the Sokoto State of Nigeria.-Airlines and destinations:...
.: A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, tail number 5N-ANR, overshoot the runway and caught fire at Ilorin Airport on a training flight.: A Boeing 737-2F9
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
, registration 5N-ANW, ran past the runway after landing in heavy rain at Port Harcourt Airport; nosegear and starboard main gear both collapsed.: A Boeing 737-2F9, registration 5N-ANX, had its nosegear collapsed following overrunning on the wet runway at Ikeja International Airport.
See also
- Arik AirArik AirArik Air is a Nigerian airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. It is also the national carrier of Sierra Leone. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja...
- Virgin Nigeria AirwaysVirgin Nigeria AirwaysAir Nigeria , is the national flag carrier of Nigeria. The airline operates scheduled regional and domestic passenger services. Its base is Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. The airline is a replacement for defunct Nigeria Airways...