- Nigeria Airways Flight 2120
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Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 
C-GMXQ, the aircraft involved in the accident, is seen here at Faro Airport. (1989)Accident summary Date July 11, 1991 Type Under-inflated tire which overheated, in-flight fire, shortly-after-takeoff fire Site King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
21°40′12.83″N 39°09′2.08″E / 21.6702306°N 39.1505778°ECoordinates: 21°40′12.83″N 39°09′2.08″E / 21.6702306°N 39.1505778°EPassengers 247 Crew 14 Injuries 0 Fatalities 261 (all) Survivors 0 Aircraft type Douglas DC-8-61 Operator Nationair on behalf of Nigeria Airways Tail number C-GMXQ Flight origin King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Destination Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, Nigeria Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 refers to a Douglas DC-8-61, registration C-GMXQ, owned by the Canadian company Nolisair and wet-leased to Nigeria Airways, which in turn sub-leased the aircraft to another company to transport Nigerian pilgrims to and from Mecca,[1] that crashed at King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah-KAIA) on 11 July 1991.[2][3]
Contents
Description of the accident
The 1968-built airplane departed Jeddah-KAIA (IATA: JED, ICAO: OEJN) bound for Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport (IATA: SKO, ICAO: DNSO); problems were reported shortly after take-off. The crew attempted to return to the airport of departure for an emergency landing , but the aircraft caught fire and crashed short of the runway.[2][3] All 261 occupants on board —of whom 247 were passengers— perished in the accident.[1][2][4]
As of March 2010[update], the accident remains the deadliest one involving a DC-8,[2] as well as the deadliest one involving a Canadian aircraft.[citation needed]
Causes
The cause of the crash was found to be under-inflated tires that overheated, subsequently catching fire. The fire spread to the cargo hold, causing a failure of hydraulic systems and an eventual in-flight break-up of the aircraft short of making an emergency landing.
Aftermath
A memorial to the incident is located at the head office of Greater Toronto Airports Authority on the grounds of Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario.[citation needed]
See also
- Air safety
- List of notable accidents and incidents on commercial aircraft
- List of accidents and incidents on commercial airliners grouped by location
References
- ^ a b "HEADLINES – Confusion over Saudi DC-8 crash" (pdf). Flight International: 4. 17 July 1991 – 17 July 1991. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1991/1991%20-%201894.html. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 August 2011.
- ^ a b "AIRLINE SAFETY REVIEW – FATAL ACCIDENTS: NON-SCHEDULED PASSENGER FLIGHTS" (pdf). Flight International: 22. 29 January 1992 – 4 February 1992. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1992/1992%20-%200188.html. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ "Catastrophe aérienne de Djeddah: 261 morts. [Jeddah air crash: 261 dead]" (in French). Le Monde. 13 July 1991. http://www.lemonde.fr/web/recherche_breve/1,13-0,37-534131,0.html. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
External links
- Cockpit Voice Recorder Database
- Nationair history site
- Accident history for King Abdulaziz International Airport at Aviation Safety Network
May 26 Lauda Air Flight 004
Jul 10 L'Express Airlines Flight 508
Jul 11 Nigeria Airways Flight 2120
Aug 16 Indian Airlines Flight 257Sep 11 Continental Express Flight 2574
Nov 20 Azerbaijani helicopter shootdown
Dec 27 Scandinavian Airlines Flight 751
Dec 29 China Airlines Flight 358Incidents resulting in at least 50 deaths shown in italics. Deadliest incident shown in bold smallcaps.Categories:- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1991
- 1991 in Saudi Arabia
- Aviation accidents and incidents in Saudi Arabia
- Aviation in Nigeria
- Airliner accidents and incidents caused by maintenance errors
- Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-8
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