The plane was chartered to convey to Akure, the Ondo state capital, the casket of the former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Agagu, who died in Lagos on 13 September.
The plane with 22 people on board suffered an engine failure shortly after takeoff in Lagos, crash-landing on the runway, killing almost everyone on board.
“We have recovered eight bodies so far, while one person who is badly injured is being taken to the hospital. The rescue operation is still on. It was a small (charter) plane operated by Associated Airlines,” Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency said.
An aviation official confirmed the plane, with 20 people on board, suffered engine failure after takeoff.
The full manifest of the occupants is yet to be released by aviation authorities, but we got information that an aide of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who also doubles as a son of a prominent Nigerian politician, was on board, Unconfirmed reports also state that ex head of state’s Olusegun Obasanjo’s son, top PDP dignitaries were those aboard plane.So was a director of a popular funeral company in Lagos.
In Akure, officials of the government waiting to receive the casket, were said to have left the airport, upon hearing news of the tragedy in Lagos.
A press conference is about taking place at the Lagos airport.
More to come
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