Nigeria Airways Flight 2120
Encyclopedia
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 International Airport
(Jeddah-KAIA) on .
; problems were reported shortly after take-off. The crew attempted to return to the airport of departure for an emergency landing , but the aircraft caught fire and crashed short of the runway. All 261 occupants on board —of whom 247 were passengers— perished in the accident.
, the accident remains the deadliest one involving a DC-8, as well as the deadliest one involving a Canadian aircraft.
on the grounds of Toronto Pearson International Airport
in Mississauga, Ontario
.
Nigeria Airways
Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, is a defunct Nigerian 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...
Flight 2120 refers to a Douglas DC-8-61, registration C-GMXQ, owned by the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
company Nolisair
Nolisair
Nolisair was a Canadian company, the parent company of Nationair, a Canadian airline, and of Technair, an aircraft maintenance company...
and wet-leased to Nigeria Airways, which in turn sub-leased the aircraft to another company to transport Nigerian pilgrims to and from Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, that crashed at King Abdulaziz International Airport
King Abdulaziz International Airport
King Abdulaziz International Airport is an aviation facility located 19 km to the north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Named after King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the airport is Saudi Arabia's third largest air facility and busiest airport by passenger. The airport occupies an area of 15 square kilometers...
(Jeddah-KAIA) on .
Description of the accident
The 1968-built airplane departed Jeddah-KAIA bound for Sadiq Abubakar III International AirportSadiq 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:...
; problems were reported shortly after take-off. The crew attempted to return to the airport of departure for an emergency landing , but the aircraft caught fire and crashed short of the runway. All 261 occupants on board —of whom 247 were passengers— perished in the accident.
, the accident remains the deadliest one involving a DC-8, as well as the deadliest one involving a Canadian aircraft.
Causes
The cause of the crash was found to be under-inflated tires that overheated, subsequently catching fire. The fire spread to the cargo hold, causing a failure of hydraulic systems and an eventual in-flight break-up of the aircraft short of making an emergency landing.Aftermath
A memorial to the incident is located at the head office of Greater Toronto Airports AuthorityGreater Toronto Airports Authority
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority operates Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The GTAA operates Canada's largest airport facility with a traffic of 31.0 million passengers in 2006. The authority's headquarters are on the airport...
on the grounds of Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
in Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
.
See also
- Air safetyAir safetyAir safety is a term encompassing the theory, investigation and categorization of flight failures, and the prevention of such failures through regulation, education and training. It can also be applied in the context of campaigns that inform the public as to the safety of air travel.-United...
- List of notable accidents and incidents on commercial aircraft
- List of accidents and incidents on commercial airliners grouped by location