A Nigerian passenger, believed to be a retired officer of the Nigerian Air Force, has reportedly died during a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Sources at the Abuja airport confirmed to our correspondent that the veteran officer, whose identity has yet to be officially disclosed, passed away in the early hours of Monday morning while in transit. He was said to be battling a terminal illness prior to the journey.
The deceased, reportedly an indigene of Anambra State, was returning to Nigeria for continued medical care when his condition deteriorated mid-flight. According to one passenger, the incident triggered panic onboard and prompted an emergency landing at El Prat Airport in Barcelona, where medical personnel made efforts to resuscitate him, but were unsuccessful.
“The man looked seriously ill even before boarding,” a source familiar with the situation told The Telegraph. “His family was flying him home to continue treatment, but unfortunately, he didn’t make it.”
The flight, which departed Heathrow at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, was initially scheduled to arrive in Abuja after a six-hour journey.
Efforts to reach British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Mrs. Tutu Otuyalo, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered as of press time.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, did not respond to calls or text messages seeking comment on the incident.
A senior official at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak with the media, confirmed the development.
“It’s true. This is not something that can be covered up,” the official said. “I believe the NCAA should issue a formal statement to the press soon.”
