EAS plane crash of May 4th 2002: 14 years after

14 years after: Remembering all those who lost their lives in the EAS plane crash of May 4 2002 in Kano.

On the 4th of May 2002, Eas flight routing Los-Jos-Kano- Los departed lagos .

Wikipedia had reported that the plane had arrived safely in Kano from Jos, and had just set off for Lagos when it plunged to the ground at about 14:35 local time (13:35UTC) on 4 May 2002. It crash-landed in a residential area of the city called Gwammaja. The plane, a BAC One-Eleven 525FT with 69 passengers and 8 crew members on board, burst into flames upon impact. The accident resulted in the deaths of 64 passengers and 7 crew in addition to at least 78 civilians on the ground. Sadly it came down in a densely populated area, ploughing through several buildings including two mosques before it came to a halt and burst into flames.

Prior to the fatal crash, the aircraft involved in the incident had been grounded on two previous occasions: once in 2001 for eleven days to perform engine maintenance, and again in 2002 for 52 days to address engine problems. THISDAY however gathered then that the crash, which happened three minutes after take-off, resulted from a failed engine that went beyond the control of the pilot, Peter Ineh and his co-pilot, whose name was given simply as Adegboye.

Following an investigation by the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, the cause of the crash was ruled to be pilot error. The findings of the investigation stated the engines failed following their intake of a large amount of dust. This occurred as a result of the pilot overshooting the runway and continuing the take-off through a grassy area at the end of the runway. Following the engine failure the plane rapidly descended into the neighbouring Gwammaja area of Kano ultimately destroying several structures on the ground.

Eye-witnesses further said they saw the plane swaying from side to side just after takeoff, and then it went into a nose dive.

Flight 4226 has the highest death toll of any aviation accident involving a BAC One-Eleven. The Sports Minister, Mr Ishaya Mark-Aku the wife of Lt-General Jeremiah Useni (rtd), Mrs. Julie Useni and their last son, Danjuma were amongst those killed in the crash.

A passenger, Najib Ibrahim, 3 others and a crew member however survived the crash.

Just prior to the crash, Nigerian authorities had voiced concern about the use of old aircraft by the many private carriers operating in the country and had announced a ban on planes older than 22 years. However, the British Aircraft plane that crashed in Kano was not an old airplane.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace.