Iran's FM Condoles With Nigeria On Plane Crash

Tehran, June 5, IRNA – Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi extended his condolences to the Nigerian people and government over the death of Nigerian citizens in a passenger plane crash in that country. In a message sent to his Nigerian counterpart, Olugbenga Ashiru, on Monday, Salehi expressed condolences on the tragic crash of a passenger plane, which claimed several lives in the region. 'The tragic news of the plane crash which claimed several lives grieved me and the Iranian nation,' the message said. Salehi also expressed his condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the victims' families wishing for a speedy recovery of the injured. “Iran is ready for any help,” the statement concluded. Nigeria declared three days of mourning as it said investigations into a plane crash that killed all 153 people on board could take months. Witnesses said the plane, a second-hand MD-80 run by private operator Dana Air, swayed erratically before overturning as it plunged through three buildings in the crowded, tin-roof suburb of Agege in Lagos on Sunday. Casualties on the ground are still unknown, although residents said a young girl was pulled from a burning house. 'Investigations are still ongoing so we cannot speculate on what caused the accident,' said Tunji Oketunbi of Nigeria's Accident Investigation Bureau. 'We have just recovered the black box, which we will send to either the UK or Canada for decoding. It is very difficult to say when we will have answers, it could take months.' The flight left the capital, Abuja, on a clear day at around 3pm. Some 45 minutes after take-off, 2km from a Lagos runway, a Mayday signal was sent. 'A minute later the aircraft was found to have crashed,' Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, said, crying at a press conference. An investigation would begin into the crash, she added./end