Dateline 22nd January 1963,
Nigeria was thrown into a mournful mood when a Boeing 707 aircraft operated by Alia, chartered by Nigeria Airways to fly Muslim pilgrims back from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Lagos crashed.
The aircraft had diverted to Kano due to bad weather in the Lagos area when the crew team suddenly noticed high wind on arrival at the Kano International Airport.
Describing the occurrence, the Aircraft unexpectedly landed nose-wheel first, which collapsed and made it hit a depression in the runway. Immediately, the right landing gear leg gave way, making the aircraft turn 180 degrees off the runway and burst into flames.
Two hundred and two (202) passengers and crew members were on board the Aircraft.
The crash left 176 persons dead. At the time, it was the deadliest aviation accident in Nigeria.
