3rd June, 2012
Ayorinde Oluokun/ Abuja
P.M. NEWS has confirmed that the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Levi Ajuonuma was one of the passengers on the Dana plane that crashed in Lagos today.
NNPC confirmed this evening that its media chief, travelling alone to Lagos for an assignment, was among the passengers in the ill fated MD 83 plane.
Ehime, a son of late General Augustus Aikhomu was one of those reported to be on the crashed plane. About 153 passengers were reported dead in the commercial plane which crashed into a Lagos neighbourhood this afternoon.
Two army major generals, Major General Tahir Umar and Major Gen IG Muhammad, six children, six infants and 137 others were among those who perished on Dana Air plane crash on Sunday in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
The plane, carrying 153 passengers left Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 2.13 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive the Murtala Muhammed airport in Lagos at 3.21 p.m. but crashed at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos, minutes to landing.
The aircraft MD-83 or flight 992 crashed on some houses in the area and burst into flames, killing entire family members on the plane.
Some of the other victims listed on the manifest are: Ike Ochonogor, Ike Okoye, Ike Abugu, Lt. Col. Chumbo Ochigbo, Mrs. Ojugbana Amaka, Ojugbana Christopher, Miss Oyosoro Rajulie, Oyosoro Ugbabio, Mrs. Shaibu Memuna, Mr. Shaibu Sam and Yusuf Ali.
A joint press conference by the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren and DANA Air officials, was scheduled for this night at the Ikeja Airport.
There were speculations that the crashed plane was the same one that had landing gear problem at Uyo Airport some weeks ago.
Stella Oduah, the Minister of Aviation was reported to have said investigations into the plane crash have began.
Some relatives of those on the crashed plane are now anxiously waiting for information at Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja, though there was no news yet from the officials of the Airline.
Meanwhile, Dana Air says it is working with NCAA and FAAN to release flight manifest. Dana Air said the crashed plane declared an emergency at 11 nautical miles to Lima Alfa Gulf and eventually crashed 5 miles to touchdown in Lagos.