What happened
A scheduled flight traveling from Jos to Lagos, with a planned stop in Kano, was involved in a fatal accident during its departure from Kano-Mallam Aminu Kano Airport. At the time of the incident, the airport's primary runway, 24/06, was unavailable due to ongoing asphalt maintenance. Consequently, the crew utilized runway 23, which measures 2,600 metres in length.
Despite favorable weather, the ambient temperature reached +42° C. This high heat, combined with the necessity of using the shorter runway, resulted in degraded performance. The aircraft type used the full length of the runway before overrunning the pavement and traveling across a grassy area. During the subsequent initial climb, the aircraft struggled to maintain a positive rate of climb and sufficient altitude. Approximately 2 km beyond the end of runway 23, the aircraft struck obstacles and crashed in the Gwammaja district.
The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft and several nearby structures, including a mosque and a school. Of the 77 individuals on board, there were 71 fatalities and 6 survivors. The accident also caused 78 fatalities and over 70 injuries among the population on the ground.
Findings
Investigation into the event noted that the aircraft had recently undergone maintenance, having had both engines replaced just days before the accident, with 10 flight hours accumulated since the change. The primary factor contributing to the accident was the reduced engine performance caused by high ambient temperatures and the use of a shorter runway due to construction-related closures.