Accident Overview
On October 22, 2005, at 2040 hours local time, Bellview Airlines (BLV) Flight 210, a Boeing 737-200 with registration 5N-BFN, crashed while climbing to cruise altitude shortly after takeoff from Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. The aircraft was operating a scheduled domestic passenger flight to Abuja International Airport. The airplane struck open terrain at Lisa Village, Ogun State, approximately 14 nautical miles north of the airport. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft. All 117 persons on board—2 pilots, 1 licensed engineer, 3 flight attendants, and 111 passengers—were killed.
Flight and Crew Details
The flight departed Lagos at 2035 hours. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated under an Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) plan. The accident occurred on the final leg of a one-day round trip that included stops at Accra and Lagos. Earlier legs were reported without incident. During the fifth leg, while taxiing for takeoff at Accra, the pilot and engineer discussed a low brake accumulator pressure reading of 650 psi (normal is 1000 psi). The captain continued to Lagos, where the discrepancy was logged. Maintenance engineers, including the outbound engineer for Flight 210, troubleshooted the brake system and determined the source was a faulty brake accumulator. After consulting the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), they decided the aircraft could be dispatched with the fault.
Sequence of Events
Radio communications between air traffic control and Flight 210 were transcribed. At 1917:02 UTC, the pilot requested startup and was given clearance. At 1924:08 UTC, taxi to Runway 18L was approved. The pilot reported 114 persons on board (including 6 crew), fuel endurance of 3 hours 50 minutes, and registration 5N-BFN. The route clearance was via Airway UR778, Flight Level 250, initially with a right turn-out, which the pilot later changed to a left turn-out, then back to a right turn-out due to weather. At 1928:50 UTC, Flight 210 was cleared for takeoff. The aircraft became airborne at 1931:52 UTC and was instructed to contact Lagos Approach Control. At 1932:22 UTC, the pilot reported climbing out of 1,600 feet on a right turn. That was the last transmission. Attempts to re-establish contact at 1943:46 UTC failed, triggering an emergency alert.
Investigation Findings
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) conducted an extensive investigation but could not identify conclusive evidence to explain the cause. The investigation considered several factors: the captain's training before taking command on the B737 was inadequate; the pilot's cumulative flight hours in preceding days indicated excessive workload that could lead to fatigue; the aircraft had technical defects and should not have been dispatched for either the accident flight or earlier flights; the absence of forensic evidence prevented determination of the captain's medical condition; missing flight recorders precluded reconstruction of the flight; the effect of atmospheric disturbances could not be determined; the operator failed to maintain continuing airworthiness and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements; and the Civil Aviation Authority's safety oversight was inadequate.