What happened
During a flight originating from Lagos and destined for Kano, the flight crew received notification that Kano Airport was unavailable for landing because of adverse weather. In an attempt to reach an alternative destination, the crew redirected the aircraft toward Sokoto. However, upon arrival in the vicinity of Sokoto, air traffic control advised the crew to enter a holding pattern because the airport had been closed to all traffic due to similarly poor meteorological conditions.
After several dozen minutes of circling, the crew notified air traffic controllers that the aircraft was experiencing a critical shortage of fuel. In response to the emergency, the pilot lowered the aircraft's altitude to attempt an emergency descent and landing. The aircraft subsequently struck an open field situated approximately 6 km east of Sokoto Airport. During the impact, the undercarriage was lost, causing the plane to slide for several dozen meters before coming to a complete stop. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
- The incident resulted in 4 fatalities and 24 injuries, while 25 occupants survived without harm.
- The primary driver of the emergency was the lack of sufficient fuel to continue holding patterns while waiting for weather improvements.