Foxnews broadcast added that the top Nigerian muslim cleric was among the deadABUJA, Nigeria — A Nigerian airliner carrying more than 100 people crashed Sunday near the airport in this West African nation's capital and a television station reported at least six people survived.
The plane crashed shortly after taking off from the airport in Abuja during a storm, state radio reported. The airline was carrying 104 passengers and crew members, the radio station said, citing Rowland Iyayi, head of the National Air Space Management Agency. The state radio station said no survivors had been found but privately owned Channels Television said at least six people survived the crash.
The plane was headed to the northwest city of Sokoto, Channels and state radio said. Channels had earlier reported the plane was headed to Lagos. A local radio station, Ray Power FM, reported that the plane was owned by Aviation Development Co., a private Nigerian airline.
Angus Ozoaka, head of the accidents investigation bureau in the Aviation Ministry, said the crash had been reported to his office but he had no details. "I'm trying to get to the scene now. I can't say anything more until I've been to the scene," Ozoaka told The Associated Press by telephone from Abuja.
ADC last suffered a crash in November 1996, when one of its jets plunged into a lagoon outside Nigeria's main city, Lagos, killing all 143 aboard.