Eight passengers have been confirmed dead after a plane crashed on take-off after running into difficulties at Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The charter plane, which conflicting reports suggest was carrying about 20 passengers and seven crew, hit a structure and burst into flames after the engine failed, according to a Nigerian Airspace Management Agency spokesperson. The Associated Airlines plane was bound for Akure in the south-west of the country.
Assuring reporters that rescue efforts are continuing, Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency said: “We have recovered eight bodies so far, while one person who is badly injured is being taken to the hospital.
Unconfirmed reports say the plane was chartered to transport the body of Dr Olusegun Agagu, former governor of Ondo state, who died suddenly at his home in Lagos almost three weeks ago. His funeral is due to take place on October 4th district of Iju-Odo. If this speculation proves to be accurate, the plane is also likely to have been carrying several members of the governor’s family.
Murtala Muhammed Airport was previously the scene of tragedy in June 2012, when 163 people were killed after Dana Air Flight 992 crashed into a furniture works and printing press building.
News of the accident, which quickly spread to the nooks and crannies of the country, has left many people with speculations of who and who were truly on board the aircraft. It was thought that given the personality of the late ex-Governor, a number of dignitaries may have also been involved in the accident but it has not been clear yet those reported to have lost their lives.
While the Federal Ministry of Aviation has taken steps in the last few years to sanitise the safety values and precautions at the nation’s airports, the cause of this airport which has been attributed to a failed engine by the aircraft exonerates, until proven otherwise, any possible lapse on the path of the management of the Murtala Muhammed airport.
