Reflecting On The 18th Anniversary Of The Sosoliso Plane Crash: Tragic Events Unfolded On December 10, 2005, In Port Harcourt

Reflecting On The 18th Anniversary Of The Sosoliso Plane Crash: Tragic Events Unfolded On December 10, 2005, In Port Harcourt

Written By Oshiobugie Omo-Ikirodah

On December 10, 2005, tragedy struck as Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145, en route from Abuja to Port Harcourt, experienced a devastating crash at Port Harcourt International Airport. The McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, commanded by Captain Benjamin Adekunle Adebayo, a seasoned 48-year-old pilot with 10,050 hours of flying experience, tragically ended in disaster during stormy weather. CONTINUE READING

At approximately 14:08 local time, the aircraft crash-landed, resulting in a fiery catastrophe. The plane, carrying 110 people, including 103 passengers and 7 crew members, witnessed only two survivors. Initial rescue efforts saved seven individuals, but the inferno claimed the lives of many passengers who survived the impact.

The human toll was immense, and among the tragic losses were approximately sixty secondary school students from Loyola Jesuit College in Abuja. Heartbreakingly, 59 students perished, with Kechi Okwuchi (@Kechi) emerging as the sole survivor from her school.

Kechi underwent treatment at Milpark Hospital in Joburg, South Africa, and Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas, USA. In a testament to resilience, Kechi later participated in the twelfth season of America’s Got Talent in 2017, showcasing her vocal talents and finishing as a finalist. CONTINUE READING

The ill-fated flight also carried Televangelist Bimbo Odukoya, pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, who sadly succumbed to her injuries the day after the crash. However, her personal assistant, Bunmi Amusan (now Bunmi Adams), managed to survive the tragic incident.

The Sosoliso Plane Crash marked a dark chapter in Nigerian aviation history, compounded by the earlier Bellview Airlines Flight 210 disaster on October 22, 2005. Both incidents claimed numerous lives, prompting President Olusegun Obasanjo to order the immediate grounding of all Sosoliso planes. The crash was particularly poignant as it was Sosoliso’s first and only fatal accident, leaving an indelible mark on the nation and the families who lost their loved ones.

Source: Bushradiogist