Today marks the 19th anniversary of the tragic Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash, one of the most catastrophic events in Nigeria’s aviation history.
The date, 10 December, remains etched in the memories of many Nigerians as a symbol of profound loss. This anniversary has sparked discussions on X, with users paying tribute to the victims.
On this day in 2005, Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 aircraft, crashed while attempting to land at Port Harcourt International Airport from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The accident, attributed to pilot error and exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, claimed 108 lives out of the 110 people on board. Among the victims were 60 students from Loyola Jesuit College in Abuja, who were travelling home for the Christmas holiday.
The tragedy left only two survivors, one of whom is Kechi Okwuchi, a Nigerian-American singer, motivational speaker, and 2017 finalist on the twelfth season of America’s Got Talent.
Marking the 19th anniversary of the tragedy today, Okwuchi took to her X account to pray that the departed souls continue to watch over her as she strives to make them proud.
She tweeted, “Today is the 19th anniversary of the Sosoliso plane crash. I hope the 60 Angels keep watch over me as I navigate life, living out God’s purpose for me. I hope their loved ones who’ve rooted for me since day 1 are proud of me and that I can keep giving them reasons to smile.”
The Sosoliso crash was the second major air disaster in Nigeria within three months, following the Bellview Airlines Flight 210 crash in October 2005.