Narrative:The F-27 plane crashed on a flight from Lagos (LOS) to Sao-Tome/Principe with military, government officials and reporters on board. The aircraft crashed into the Bight of Benin on the 127 degree radial of the LOS VOR. at 67 DME, off the coast of Forcados close to Warri in the Niger Delta. It was a 12 man delegation sent by the Federal Military Government at that time on a defence diplomatic mission to São Tomé. One of the casualties was Nigeria's Minister of External Affairs Abubakar Usman.
It was reported in the news then that the plane ran into a severe thunderstorm.
Sources:
» Willem Wendt
» The Montreal Gazette - Jun 2, 1980
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport to São Tomé Island Airport as the crow flies is 781 km (488 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.