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1994 Oriental Airlines crash

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1994 Oriental Airlines crash
Accident
Date18 September 1994 (1994-09-18)
SummaryCrash on landing due to fuel exhaustion
SiteAguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport, Tamanrasset, Algeria
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBAC One-Eleven
OperatorOriental Airlines
Registration5N-IMO
Flight originTunis, Tunisia
StopoverTamanrasset, Algeria
DestinationLagos, Nigeria
Passengers32
Crew7
Fatalities5
Survivors34

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

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Aircraft and operator

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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

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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

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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

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Crew

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  • Chinedu Ogbonna (pilot)[10]
  • Chukwuwenyi Amaechi (pilot)[10]
  • Obiageli Ezeh (air steward)[10]

Footballers

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  • Omalie Aimuanmwosari[10]
  • Uche Ikeogu[10]

Notable survivors

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References

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  1. ^ Liadi, Tunde (30 October 2020). "Untold story of Iwuanyanwu Nationale 1994 Plane Crash". The Nation. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  2. ^ Nwankpa Jr, Clement (25 May 2020). "As Dare moves to ensure labour of our heroes aren't in vain…". Blueprint. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Heartland FC Mark 25th Anniversary of Air Crash in Algeria". This Day. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina (19 September 2019). "Heartland mark 25 years since Algeria disaster". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident BAC One-Eleven 515FB 5N-IMO Tamanrasset-Aguemar Airport (TMR)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  6. ^ Samuel, Babatunde (18 September 2019). "Heartland remember late heroes from 1994 Oriental Airlines crash". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Soccer Team Down in Algerian Crash". Newsday. 19 September 1994. p. 21. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  8. ^ Obasi, Omeka (30 July 2021). "SPORTSFLAKES: BANJI OLA ESCAPED DEATH IN LIBERIA, ALGERIA". The Next Edition. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
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