Nigeria: plane crashes near Lagos airport

A chartered airplane to fly from Lagos to Akure crashed into the bush and burst into flames minutes after taking off from Lagos Murtala Mohammed airport Thursday, Nigerian officials said. The plane was a Brazilian made Embraer-120.

Officials said there were eight casualties but refused to confirm reports of several deaths as reporters watched plumes of smoke rising from the site.

Five survivors among 20 passengers have been rushed to the hospital. Confirmed Reports say the late corpse of former Ondo State Gov Olusegun Agagu (was on board) though his burial was set for tomorrow Friday 4th October 2013 , he was expected in Akure today for a lying-in-state to be held at the Democracy Park. The fate of his first son Feyi Agagu is yet to be known.

"We have put out the fire and our priority continues to be rescuing survivors," he said.

The pilot detected a fault soon after taking off and tried to return to the airport for a crash-landing but did not make it, said another police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Lagos airport is not included in his duties.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.