1994 Oriental Airlines crash
Accident | |
---|---|
Date | 18 September 1994 |
Summary | Crash on landing due to fuel exhaustion |
Site | Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport, Tamanrasset, Algeria |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | BAC One-Eleven |
Operator | Oriental Airlines |
Registration | 5N-IMO |
Flight origin | Tunis, Tunisia |
Stopover | Tamanrasset, Algeria |
Destination | Lagos, Nigeria |
Passengers | 32 |
Crew | 7 |
Fatalities | 5 |
Survivors | 34 |
On 18 September 1994, an Oriental Airlines BAC One-Eleven (registration 5N-IMO) crashed during an attempted landing at Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport in Tamanrasset, Algeria. The crash resulted in five fatalities—two passengers and three crew members. The charter flight, traveling from Tunis, Tunisia, to Lagos, Nigeria, was arranged to return the Nigerian football team Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC) following an away match against Espérance.[1][2][3][4]
Background
Aircraft and operator
The aircraft, a BAC One-Eleven with registration 5N-IMO and serial number 229, first flew in 1970.[5] It was operated by Oriental Airlines, a company owned by Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, then-owner of Iwuanyanwu Nationale.
Football context
Iwuanyanwu Nationale qualified for the 1994 African Cup of Champions Clubs after winning the 1993 Nigerian Premier League. The team advanced through the first two rounds, defeating Nigerien side Zumunta AC and Cameroonian team RC Bafoussam. They faced Tunisian champions Espérance in the quarterfinals but lost 3–0 in the first leg in Tunis.[6]
Flight and crash
The return flight to Nigeria was delayed by over three hours due to disputes over fuel costs. Unfavorable weather and limited fuel led the pilots to divert to Tamanrasset, Algeria. Poor visibility forced three aborted landing attempts.[7][8]
During a fourth landing attempt, the aircraft struck a pole and broke apart. Survivor Anthony Nwaigwe later recounted that the aircraft split into three sections, which allowed some passengers to escape.[9]
Victims
Crew
Footballers
Notable survivors
References
- ^ Liadi, Tunde (30 October 2020). "Untold story of Iwuanyanwu Nationale 1994 Plane Crash". The Nation. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Nwankpa Jr, Clement (25 May 2020). "As Dare moves to ensure labour of our heroes aren't in vain…". Blueprint. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Heartland FC Mark 25th Anniversary of Air Crash in Algeria". This Day. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina (19 September 2019). "Heartland mark 25 years since Algeria disaster". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "ASN Aircraft accident BAC One-Eleven 515FB 5N-IMO Tamanrasset-Aguemar Airport (TMR)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Samuel, Babatunde (18 September 2019). "Heartland remember late heroes from 1994 Oriental Airlines crash". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Soccer Team Down in Algerian Crash". Newsday. 19 September 1994. p. 21. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ Obasi, Omeka (30 July 2021). "SPORTSFLAKES: BANJI OLA ESCAPED DEATH IN LIBERIA, ALGERIA". The Next Edition. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Aiyejina, Tana (17 August 2019). "How I survived '94 Iwuanyanwu Nationale plane crash — Nwaigwe". Best Naira News. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Salman, Ganiyu (18 September 2014). "'Our plane hovered for 2 hours before it crashed' - Chukwu, Olarinoye, others relive Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC's plane crash experience 20 years after". Nigerian Tribune.
- ^ Osuji, Sab (20 September 2020). "'Iwuanyanwu Nationale 1994 Plane Clash And Ikeogu, Omale's Death Still Hurt' --Two-Time Nigeria Pro League Top Scorer, Nwaigwe". Complete Sports. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- Heartland F.C.
- 1994 in Algeria
- 1994 in Nigeria
- Aviation accidents and incidents involving professional sports teams
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1994
- Aviation accidents and incidents in Algeria
- Accidents and incidents involving the BAC One-Eleven
- Accidental deaths in Algeria
- 1994–95 in Nigerian football
- 1994 in Nigerian sport
- September 1994 events in Africa