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Nigeria mourns 153 dead as questions mount over Lagos jet crash Nigeria mourns 153 dead as questions mount over Lagos jet crash
(about 7 hours later)
Nigeria declared three days of mourning as it said investigations into a plane crash that killed all 153 people on board could take months. Nigeria has said it may take months to investigate why a plane that was allegedly too old to fly crashed, killing all 153 people on board.
Witnesses said the plane, a secondhand MD-80 run by private operator Dana Air, swayed erratically before overturning as it plunged through three buildings in the crowded, tin-roof suburb of Agege in Lagos on Sunday. Witnesses said the plane, a second-hand MD-80 run by Dana Air, began swaying erratically before overturning as it plunged through three buildings in the tin-roof district of Agege in Lagos. An unknown number of casualties died on the ground, including a young girl and a mother clutching a baby, officials said.
Casualties on the ground are still unknown, although residents said a young girl was pulled from a burning house. Visiting the site after declaring three days of mourning, President Goodluck Jonathan wept as he promised an inquiry into the crash. "We will make sure this will not repeat itself in this country," he said.
"Investigations are still ongoing so we cannot speculate on what caused the accident," said Tunji Oketunbi of Nigeria's Accident Investigation Bureau. "We have just recovered the black box, which we will send to either the UK or Canada for decoding. It is very difficult to say when we will have answers, it could take months." The accident came after a cargo plane crashed in Ghana the previous day, killing 10. Tunji Oketunbi, a spokesperson for Nigeria's Accident Investigation Bureau, said there were no early indications as to what caused the accident. "We cannot speculate. We have just recovered the black box, which we will send to either the UK or Canada for decoding. It is very difficult to say when we will have answers, it could take months."
One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the airliner was 22 years old, despite a ban on planes older than 20 years flying. He said the plane had had previous problems, including at least two incidents when smoke began billowing from the cockpit. As US officials began assisting with investigations, Nigeria's worst crash in two decades triggered an outpouring of anger. Sold by Alaska Airlines three years ago, the 22-year-old plane was flying despite Nigeria's ban on airliners older than 20 years. An official said previous problems with the aircraft included at least two instances of smoke billowing from the cockpit. Last month, another Dana jet made an emergency landing in Lagos.
"I can say it's not even about the age of the plane, but Dana would try to save costs by scrimping on engine maintenance," he added. "It was an issue that had been raised with this particular plane before." Bayo Oladeji, a former official at Nigeria's federal aviation ministry, claimed airlines often tried to cut corners on safety and maintenance. "Running an airline is capital intensive yet they are not ready to source for the necessary funding," he wrote in the Osun Defender editorial. "I recall one of them approached my boss promising to give him, his family members and staff free ticketing to go anywhere in the world if the minister could play dirty ball with him."
Dana Air, which has been grounded once since it began operating in 2008, is considered one of Nigeria's safer airlines. The flight left the capital, Abuja, amid clear skies on Sunday. Some 45 minutes after take-off, within sight of Lagos airport runways, a Mayday signal was sent. "A minute later, the aircraft was found to have crashed," aviation minister Stella Oduah said at a press conference where she also cried. As nightfall approached, dozens of ambulances from neighbouring states left the crash site.
Among the crash victims were the national oil company's spokesperson, Levi Ajuonuma, and Celestine Onwuliri, husband of a foreign affairs minister. Thousand-strong crowds that swarmed over the initial smouldering wreck, preventing ambulances from reaching the scene, had thinned out. But police lashed out at hundreds as they clambered over walls to watch bulldozers clearing the twisted metal. "We hope the wreck will be cleared by today. More than 100 bodies have been recovered, but we haven't been able to shift the main hull yet to remove [all the bodies]," said Timothy Oladipo, a Red Cross official wearing a mask against the rising stench near a cracked tail wing. "Yesterday it happened so suddenly, we weren't able to [cordon the site]. But the heat was too much, so I don't think any crucial evidence has been tampered with," he added.
The flight left the capital, Abuja, on a clear day at around 3pm. Some 45 minutes after take-off, 2km from a Lagos runway, a Mayday signal was sent. "A minute later the aircraft was found to have crashed," aviation minister Stella Oduah said, crying at a press conference. An investigation would begin into the crash, she added. Witnesses in the crowded suburb were still in shock. "The right wing took the top off a mango tree, then the nose went through those three buildings," said Babatunde Sola, gesturing at a gaping three-storey building with a charred roof. "People were too shocked to do anything at first."
Dozens of emergency vehicles clustered around the overturned wreck of the plane. The crowds that had swarmed over the smouldering ruins had thinned out. Onlookers had exchanged blows with the police as they clambered over walls to watch bulldozers clearing the twisted metal. "There have been too many crashes in Nigeria. We need the government to name and shame the airlines so that they are forced to sit up," another onlooker, Sherif Anyepi, said to cheers from the crowd.
"We hope the wreck will be cleared by today," said Timothy Oladipo, a Red Cross official, yards from a cracked wing. "About 65 bodies have been recovered, but we haven't been able to shift the main [fuselage] yet to remove the others. Dana Air has been forced to suspend operations once since it began operating in 2008, but is considered one of Nigeria's safer domestic airlines. Sunday's victims include a senior official from the national oil company, a minister's husband, six Chinese nationals and several Nigerians with dual US citizenship. A German national is also believed to have boarded the flight.
"It happened so suddenly, we weren't able to [cordon the site]. But the heat was too much, so I don't think crucial evidence has been tampered with," he added. One victim, Ameena Bugaje, had boarded the flight at the last minute because, according to her blackberry profile, her father believed it was safer than other routes heading south.
Witnesses said the plane began swaying seconds before crashing. "The right wing took the top off a mango tree, then the nose went through those three buildings," said Babatunde Sola, gesturing at a gaping building with a charred roof. "When I ran outside there were many small explosions. People were too shocked to do anything at first." At Abuja's Nnamdi Azikwe airport, people desperate for information about relatives were turned away. "Only after people started crying and ranting did the management take some people into their offices," said a Dana official.
Others at the scene expressed anger. "There have been too many crashes in Nigeria – anyone who flies in Nigeria has used Dana Air before. We need the government to name and shame the airlines so that they are forced to sit up," said onlooker Sherif Anyepi, standing on a crowded wall overlooking the scene. In Lagos's Murtala Muhammed airport, where relatives had camped overnight, Dana set up an information centre. Nigeria's chequered air safety record has improved since nine crashes in 2005 prompted an overhaul of the industry. Dozens of flights ply the hour-long route between Lagos and Abuja daily, but poor electricity-generation sometimes cuts out runway lights and radar screens.
Nigeria has a chequered air safety record, although it has improved since an overhaul of the industry after nine crashes in 2005. Dozens of flights ply the one hour route between Lagos and Abuja daily, but poor electricity-generation sometimes cuts out runway lights and radar screens.
In Abuja airport, relatives desperate for casualty confirmations were turned away. "Even this afternoon they refused to release the [names] to relatives who had come begging. Only after people started crying and ranting did the management take some people into their offices. I don't know what they're trying to hide," a Dana official said.