153 PASSENGERS DEAD IN DANA AIR CRASH IN LAGOS

153 passengers dead in Dana Air crash in Lagos
A Lagos-bound Dana Air from Abuja, Sunday, crashed into a two storey building at Ishaga, at the outskirts of Lagos, killing all 153 passengers.

The aircraft, marked 5N-RAM, disappeared from the radar scope of the Lagos Air Traffic Control after communication from the tower to the pilot in command failed, before it crashed into the residential building on Tolulope Street, in Toyin area of Ishaga.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that the aircraft hit a power line and subsequently crashed into the building which comprised of six flats.
The aircraft exploded on impact and razed the building, according to Dr. Osanyintolu.

Emergency rescue officials said that they could not yet ascertain the number of people in the building or those who were trapped in the rubble.

In addition to LASEMA, officials of the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Red Cross, Rapid Response Squad and other rescue workers were on hand to remove corpses from the wreckage.

On one of the balconies, rescue workers removed ten bodies. 

As at the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and Dana Air management were not willing to comment on the matter.

A spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said the agency would issue a statement after getting details of the crash.

Addressing journalists after the accident, Stella Oduah, the minister of Aviation, said that the pilot had declared an emergency with the Lagos control tower at “11 nautical miles” to the Murtala Mohammed Airport but the aircraft disappeared from the air traffic control radar soon afterwards.

Mrs. Oduah stated that the incident will be “thoroughly investigated to determine the exact cause in order to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.”

Levi Ajuonuma, the spokesperson of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation; Shehu Sa’ad, director of Mainstreet Bank; Ehime Aikhomu, son of late vice admiral Augustus Aikhomu; were among those aboard the ill fated flight, according to the passengers manifest released after the incident revealed after the incident.

A statement from the Presidency said that President Goodluck Jonathan while cancelling all his official engagements scheduled for Monday has declared a three day national mourning and directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half mast.

“President joins all Nigerians in mourning all those who lost their lives in the plane crash,” Reuben Abati, presidential spokesperson, tweeted.

Also, in a tweet immediately after the crash, singer Iyanya Mbuk said that he missed the flight by a hair’s breadth.

“When its not your time.. Its not yours.. it took me 30mins to convince my manager that we should stay back in abuja.. God is great,” tweeted the Season One Winner of the MTN Project Fame West Africa.

“I don’t think I had an authentic reason to stay back in (Abuja). I just came up (wit) an excuse that I (wana) go to the studio in (abuja)….”

Read our ealier post and passenger list below
UPDATE 10: The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has addressed journalists in Lagos saying no survivor has so far been found. She explained that at 3.45 p.m., the ill-fated Flight 0992 called the control tower and declared an emergency. She said the plane dissappeared from the control tower radar shortly afterwards only to crash into a residential area.
Mrs Oduah said the Federal Government would fully investigate the cause of the crash.

UPDATE 9: FULL LIST OF PASSENGERS ON THE PLANE:

Onyeka Anyene; Hurria Lawal; Maimuna Anyene; Bakisumiadi Yindadi; Ebuka Enuma; Oluchi Onyeyiri; Sunday Enuma; George Moses; Ogechi Njoku; Noah Anyene; Kamsiyona Anyene; Stanford Obrutse; Kaiyenotochi Anyene; Okeke Hope; Rev. Ayodeji Cole; Ngozi Cole; Noah Anyene; Ailende Ehi; Oluwasegun Funmi Abiodun; Shehu Sahad Usman; Alade Martins; Onita Jennifer (Mrs); Onita Josephine; Ike Ochonogo; Joy Alison; John Ahmadu; Akowe Fatokun Anjola; Fatokun Olaoluwa; Fatokun Ibukun; Buhari Maikudi; Amina Idris Bugaje; Ajani  Adenle; IkeAbugu; Adijolola Abraham; Obot Emmanuel; Otegbeye Hadiza; Ehioghae Sunny; Onwuriri Celestine; Abikalio Otatoru; Noris Kim; Eyo Bassey; Njoku Charles; Anibaba Tosin; Okocha Christopher; Sobowale Femi; and Phillip Chukwu Ebuka, Sparagano Lawrence; Somolu Oluwakemi; Ariyibi Temitope.

Meche Eke; Ojugbana Amaka; Ojugbana Christopher; Buna Walter; Coker Olumide; Lilian Lass; Mutittir Itsifanus; Yusuf Alli; Lt. Col. Jumbo Ochigbo; Eribake Wale; Zhai Shuta; Wang Yu; P. Awani; O. Awani; N. Chidiac; Rijoel Dhose; Li Hizha; Apochi Godwin; Lang Yi; Yinusa Ahmed; Faysal Inusa; Mojekwu Adaobi; Ibrahim D; Bamaiyi Adamu; Ifekowa Jones; Peter Nosike; Anthony Nwaokocha; Mahmud Aliyu; Nnadi John; Akweze Elizabeth; Dorothy Adedunni; Echeidu Ibe; Maria Okulehi; Jennifer Ibe; Okoko junjip; Sarah Mshelia; Ahmed Mbana; Okonji Patrick; Oyosoro Rajuli; Oyosoro Ugbabio; Kaikai Farida; David Kolawole Fortune; Eyinoluwa David Kolawole; Kaltum Abubakar; and Dakawa Mahmud.
Patience Sunday Udoh; Asuquo Iniebong; Onemonelese Aimeihi; Onyeagocha Chidinma; Onyeagocha Ogechi; Ike Okoye; Amaka Raphael; Ijeoma Onyinjuke; Garba Abdul; Aisha Abdul; Benson Oluwayomi; Anthony7 Opara; Taiwo Lamidi; Awodogan Olusanmi; Obi Chinwe; Shaibu Memuna; Major I.G Mohammed; Nagidi Ibrahim; Attah Anthonia; Shaibu Sam; Ifeanyi Orakwe; Obinna Akubueze; Li Rui; Xie Zhenfeng; Oko Eseoghene; Chukwuemeka Okere; Adetunbi Adebiyi; Ibrahim Mantakari; Was Ruth; Wasa Awiyetu; Ojukwu Alvana; Lawal Anakobe; Nabil Garba; Mohammed Falmata; Ibrahim Jangana; Okikiolu Olukayode; Komolafe Olugbenga; Dike Chinwe; Dike Chike Ezugo; Olusola Arokoyo; Adetola Ayoola; Akinola Olumodeji; Olukoya Banji Saka Otaru; Adeleke Oluwadamilare; Yusuf Ibrahim; Ikpohi Obiola; Aikhomu Ehimen;  Levi Ajuonuma; Mbong Eventus.

UPDATE 8:
 Yet more names: Anyere,Kasmisgona Anyene, Stanford Obrutse, Kayinetochi Anyene,Okeke Hope, Kaima Anyene, Rev. Ayodeji Cole, Ngozi, Noah Anyene, Ailendi Ehi, Shehu Saad Usman, Oluwasegun F. Abiodun Aladi Martins, Auta Jennifer,Auta Josephine,Ike Achonogor,Joy Alison, John Ahmadu, Agu Rogers,Tatokin Anjola, Tatokin Idris Abdulrasat Lawa, Abitayo Olatoci, Adekoya Ayoola… Amina Doris, Elizabeth Adaeze, Ajala Adenike, Adekunbi Adebiyi

UPDATE 7: More names said to be on the plane include, Retired AIG John Ahmadu, wife of late Augustus Aikhomu, Rebecca, 
Sumyindadi, Ebuka Enuma, Oluchi Onyia, Sunday O, George Moses,Ogechi Njoku, Nsa Anyere,Kasmisgona Anyene,Stanford Obrutse,Kayinetochi Anyene,Okeke Hope, Kaima Anyene, Onyeka Anyiene, Humra Lawal, Manuma. Ayune, Berki.
There are also reports that three generals were on the ill-fated flight

UPDATE 6: Federal Road Safety Commission advises motoriststo avoid Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos as rescue operations is underway at DANA Airline crash scene.

UPDATE 5: Ehime Aikhomu, son of Late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, also said to be on the crashed plane.

UPDATE 4: Aviation minister, Stella Oodua said she was saddened by the news and was already on her way to the crash site.
“I am extremely saddened by the news of the crash and I assure the nation that investigations are underway,” she told NAN.
Reports say the crew of the aircraft declared May Day, an emergency announcement in the aviation industry, some 11 nautical miles to Lagos as the plane caught fire.
The reports said the aircraft left Abuja en-route Lagos some 50 minutes earlier.

UPDATE 3: We have just been told that the Group General Manager, Public Affairs, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Levi Ajuonuma, was on the plane.

UPDATE 2: Dana says it is working with NCAA and FAAN to release flight manifest. The huge crowd at the scene is preventing emergency rescue team from performing their duties.


UPDATE 1: The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Harold Demuren has confirmed that none of the 153 passengers on board survived. It is not clear yet whether there were casualty on ground given that the plane crashed in a residential area.

Read our earlier post below.
Reports reaching us say a plane belonging to Dana Airline has crashed in the Iju area of Lagos, less than five minutes away from the Lagos Airport.
The plane, which reportedly took off from Abuja, crashed at a location around Toyin Bus stop in the metropolis.
The plane is said to carry 162 passengers and crew but we are unable to independently verify that information at this point.
We however learnt that the aircraft is a a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 passenger plane having 147 passengers and 6 crew members on board.
 Below is the initial list of passengers on board the ill-fated flight.
A resident of the area said the aircraft exploded as soon as it crashed, affecting three houses in the area.
Officials of the Lagos Fire Service and other rescue workers have arrived the scene and are evacuating victims.
The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the incident, saying it has mobilised rescue workers to the scene.
A McDonnell Douglas MD-83 passenger plane crashed into a two-story building at a Lagos suburb. Dana Air flight 9J-997 was completely destroyed as it crashed killing all 147 passengers and 6 crew members on board.