FlightFinder
Check my flight
14 fatalities

Aircraft Crash at Kano-Mallam Aminu Kano Airport (5N-AXO)

Kano, NigeriaLanding (descent or approach)

On January 18, 1996, a BAe 125 (registration 5N-AXO) operated by Federal Government of Nigeria was involved in an aviation accident near Kano, Nigeria during landing or approach. 14 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered 5N-AXO
Aircraft registered 5N-AXO. Photo: simon butler from halesowen, uk / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A night approach to Kano-Mallam Aminu Kano Airport ended in a fatal crash 7.2 km short of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed, killing all 14 occupants, including Ibrahim Abacha.

Incident Overview and Location Details During a night approach to Kano-Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, the aircraft struck the ground in good weather conditions. The crash occurred in a field located 7.2 km short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident, resulting in the deaths of all 14 occupants on board. Among the fatalities was Ibrahim Abacha, aged 28, the son of General Sani Abacha, who was the President of the Republic of Nigeria at the time. The investigation noted that the specific cause of the accident remained unclear. Authorities could not determine whether the incident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain, an engine problem, or if the aircraft was shot down.

Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

More accident analyses