A retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal has died aboard a British Airways flight en route from London to Abuja, forcing an emergency landing in Spain, DAILY GAZETTE reports.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, shortly after the aircraft departed London Heathrow Airport at approximately 11:30 pm on Sunday night.
The flight, bound for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, was diverted to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain, after the passenger reportedly became unresponsive.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the deceased, an octogenarian, had been ill prior to the journey and was being flown back to Nigeria by family members to continue medical treatment at home.
Less than two hours into the flight, his condition deteriorated and he passed away mid-air.
The aircraft made the unscheduled stop in Barcelona around 1:10 am and the rest of the passengers were temporarily disembarked as local authorities and emergency responders handled the situation.
When contacted, British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Mrs. Tutu Otuyalo, did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.
However, some reports monitored by The Guardian allege that Otuyalo later confirmed the passenger had been suffering from a terminal illness before boarding the flight.
In response to the incident, British Airways issued an apology to passengers for the delay and disruption.
The airline assured that a replacement aircraft had been dispatched to Barcelona to continue the journey to Abuja.
“Passengers are advised to expect an email with more information and can reach out to the airline’s Live Chat feature for support,” the airline said in a statement. “We acknowledge the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience and understanding.”
The replacement flight was scheduled to depart Barcelona at 2:50 pm local time and arrive in Abuja by approximately 5:45 pm.
British Airways reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and expressed sympathy over the unfortunate loss.
