What happened
A charter flight operated for Nigeria Airways was transporting Nigerian pilgrims from Jeddah to Lagos when the crew received reports of inclement weather at their destination. As a result, the flight was diverted to Kano-Mallam Aminu Kano Airport.
During the final approach phase, specifically during the last segment of the descent, the pilot encountered mist. During this period, the aircraft experienced a loss of control, resulting in a nose-down attitude. The aircraft type impacted the runway surface with its nose gear making first contact. This impact caused the collapse of the nose gear, followed by the main landing gear striking the ground and puncturing the fuel tanks.
Following the initial impact, the aircraft skidded along the runway, losing both left engines. The plane performed a 180-degree turn before coming to a stop in flames. The subsequent post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. The accident resulted in 179 fatalities and 26 survivors (comprising three crew members and 23 passengers).
Findings
While an official determination has not been finalized, it is believed that wake turbulence contributed to the loss of control during the short final approach, leading to the aircraft's downward pitch.