Jetliner Skids Off Runway; 16 People Die

A jetliner on a domestic flight skidded off a rain-soaked runway at Lagos airport and burst into flames, killing as many as 16 people, aviation officials said Sunday.

The Russian-made TU-134 was flying from the north-central city of Kaduna when it touched down in Lagos on Saturday, skidded off the runway and into a field. Moments later, an explosion engulfed the plane in flames, witnesses said.

The plane belonged to Harka Airline, a domestic carrier.

Rescue workers used axes and cutlasses to break into the jet, which was carrying 74 passengers and six crew members.

Many of the dead were found in toilet or luggage compartments where they had fled to escape smoke.