User:Hack/1994 Oriental Airways crash

On 18 September 1994, an Oriental Airlines BAC One-Eleven (registration 5N-IMO) crashed attempting to land at Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport in Tamanrasset, Algeria. Two passengers and three crew members died. The charter flight between Tunis, Tunisia and Lagos, Nigeria had been arranged to return Nigerian football team Iwuanyanwu Nationale to Nigeria after an away match against Esperance.

Aircraft and operator
The aircraft was a BAC One-Eleven, with registration number 5N-IMO and serial number 229, which had first flown in 1970. The aircraft was operated by Oriental Airlines, owned by Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, then-owner of Iwuanyanwu Nationale.

Football
Iwuanyanwu Nationale qualified for the 1994 African Cup of Champions Clubs after winning the 1993 Nigerian Premier League. Entering in the first round of competition, they began strongly with a 6–1 defeat of Nigerien team Zumunta AC over two legs. In the second round, Iwuanyanwu Nationale advanced on away goals over RC Bafoussam from Cameroon after the teams finished 4–4 after two legs. Iwuanyanwu Nationale were drawn to face Tunisian champion Esperance, with the first leg scheduled for Tunis. The Tunisian champion prevailed 3–0.

Flight and crash
The team were scheduled to return to Nigeria immediately after the match, however due to disputes with officials over fuel costs, the flight was delayed over three hours. With unfavourable weather conditions during the flight and dwindling fuel, the pilots proceeded to Tamanrasset in southern Algeria. Poor visibility forced the pilots to abort three landings.

On the fourth landing attempt, the plane crashed into a pole and broke up.

After aborting four landing attempts at in bad weather and circling the airport for 90 minutes, runs out of fuel and crashes near Tamanrasset, Algeria, killing five of the 39 people on board. Nigerian football (soccer) player is among the dead.[6]

Crew

 * Chinedu Ogbonna (pilot)
 * Chukwuwenyi Amaechi (pilot)
 * Obiageli Ezeh (air steward)

Footballers

 * Omalie Aimuanmwosari
 * Uche Ikeogu

Notable survivors

 * Anthony Nwaigwe
 * Christian Chukwu