An Egypt Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration SU-GDZ performing flight MS-878 from Abuja (Nigeria) to Cairo (Egypt) with 104 passengers and 8 crew, was enroute near Ndjamena (Chad) when the crew decided to return to Abuja due to the failure of the flight management system and resulting loss of navigation. The aircraft landed safely in Abuja about 3 hours after departure.

The area north of Ndjamena does not feature ground based navigation aids, the next ground based navigation aid would be at Khartoum (Sudan) about 1000nm east of Ndjamena.

The aircraft departed Abuja the following day with a delay of 19.5 hours.


The Aviation Herald