On July 11, 1991, Nigeria Airways Flight 2120, a Douglas DC-8 aircraft carrying 261 passengers and crew, caught fire shortly after takeoff from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The plane, en route to Lagos, Nigeria, climbed to only 2,700 feet before flames erupted from one of its engines. The flight crew declared an emergency and attempted to return to the airport, but the aircraft lost altitude rapidly. The DC-8 crashed into the desert about 20 kilometers northeast of Jeddah, killing everyone on board. There were no survivors. Saudi rescue teams reached the burning wreckage within hours, but the intense heat and damage made it impossible to save any of the 247 passengers and 14 crew members aboard.

Investigations revealed that a hydraulic fluid leak had occurred in the number four engine, likely caused by a maintenance failure or manufacturing defect. The leak led to excessive heat buildup, which ignited the engine compartment and compromised the structural integrity of the aircraft's systems. The DC-8 model, which had been in service since the 1950s, was aging and Nigeria Airways had been operating with an older fleet due to financial constraints. The disaster exposed serious concerns about the airline's maintenance procedures and aircraft condition, issues that had plagued the carrier for years.

The crash of Flight 2120 became one of the deadliest aviation disasters of 1991 and remains one of the worst airline accidents involving a Nigerian carrier. It underscored the dangers faced by smaller African airlines struggling with outdated equipment and limited resources. The tragedy prompted increased scrutiny of Nigeria Airways, which had accumulated a poor safety record. The airline eventually ceased operations in 2003. The disaster also highlighted the vulnerability of aircraft at high altitudes near major cities, where rapid descent from mechanical failure leaves pilots minimal options for landing safely.