Backgrounder: Major air crashes since 2003
Airliner with 114 aboard crashes in Nigeria

    LAGOS, Oct. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- A Nigerian plane carrying 116 people including several high ranking officials crashed late Saturday shortly after taking off from Lagos for the capital Abuja, state radio reported on Sunday.

    "It has been confirmed in the early hours of this morning that a Boeing 737 Bellview Airlines plane which took off from Lagos ...has crashed. Some high level government officials are believed to be on board," said the state radio.

    The state radio added that the ill-fated Boeing 737-200 airliner was carrying 116 people: 110 passengers and six crew members. Earlier an official of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said there were 114 people on board.

    According to local media, among several high-ranking officials is Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Waziri Mohammed who is also a presidential aide.

    FAAN Spokesman Adamu Abdullahi said the missing airliner heading for the Nigerian capital Abuja was operated by Bellview Airlines, one of leading local airlines.

    He added that they were trying to locate the aircraft after it lost contact with the control tower minutes after taking off for the capital Abuja. "Two police helicopters are looking for it," hesaid.

    According to a Bellview official, the missing plane "took off at 8:45 (1945 GMT) and lost contact."

    The Boeing 737-200 normally carries about 110 passengers. The Lagos-Abuja is the busiest shuttle route in the west African country as Lagos is the commercial capital of the country and Abuja, the nation's capital. Enditem