The pilot's neglect of advice from air traffic controllers to wait for a lightning storm to clear before taking off caused a Nigerian plane crash, which killed nearly 100 people on Sunday, according to media reports Tuesday.

 

The government was preparing guidelines to stop such "reckless abuse of crew discretionary power," said Nigerian Aviation Minister Babalola Borishade.

 

The Boeing-737, which was flying from Lagos to the northwest city of Sokoto en route Abuja, crashed shortly after taking off from the airport during a storm.

 

No survivors had been found so far, according to the state radio. But the television station Channels of Nigeria said there were six confirmed survivors.

 

The government had ordered all of the privately owned airline's planes grounded indefinitely and suspended its flying license, Borishade said.

 

Representatives of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. and engine maker Pratt & Whitney are expected in Nigeria on Tuesday to help with the investigation, said Nigeria's Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau.

 

(Xinhua News Agency via Agencies October 31, 2006)