20 Passengers, Seven Crew Members Aboard Ill-Fated Associated Airlines Aircraft

The plane operated by Associated
Airlines which crashed shortly after
take-off on Thursday at the Mafoloku
area of Oshodi in Lagos State had 20
passengers and seven crew members
on board, a press release by the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah
has said.



In the statement signed by her special
adviser on media – Joe Obi – the
minister said a few dead bodies have
been recovered while some persons
pulled out from the wreckage have
been rushed to the hospital. The full statement: “An Embraer aircraft operated by
Associated Airlines with Reg No SCD
361 enroute Akure from the Murtala
Mohammed Airport, Lagos, crashed
shortly after take-off at about 9.30 am
local time. The plane had 20 passengers and 7 crew members on
board. “Emergency rescue operations
commenced immediately by a
combined team of Fire Service and
security personnel. Some persons
pulled out from the aircraft have been
rushed to the hospital while a few dead bodies have been recovered. The
rescue operation is still on-going.” The plane is believed to have been
chartered to convey the remains of
former Ondo State governor, Dr.
Olusegun Agagu, who died last month
to Akure where burial arrangements
have already begun since Monday. The late Agagu’s corpse was reportedly
accompanied on the ill-fated flight by
some members of his family,
associates and officials of the Ondo
state government.