Nigerian plane with 100 aboard crashes in Abuja

ABUJA, Oct 29 (Reuters) A Nigerian airplane with more than 100 people on board crashed today shortly after takeoff from the capital Abuja, media and emergency sources said.

The plane, operated by the Nigerian airline ADC, burst into flames and casualties were expected, a security source said. An airline source said there were 114 aboard, not including crew.

The Nigerian television station Channels said there were six confirmed survivors. The fate of the others was not immediately clear.

''It crash-landed after takeoff. It was an ADC aircraft from Abuja to Sokoto with over 100 people on board,'' a source in the National Emergency Management Agency said, asking not to be named.

Airport officials prevented journalists from getting close to the crash site at the far end of a runway, out of sight of the terminal building.

Emergency vehicles, military trucks and ambulances drove onto the runway.

The airport departure lounge was still packed with travellers, many seeking information on their mobile phones.

ADC is a popular domestic passenger airline.

It was the third major air crash in Nigeria in just over one year.

REUTERS AD BS1945