Nigeria Escapes Another Air Disaster As Lagos-Bound Passenger Attempts To Open Cabin Door Mid-Air
Barely 24 hours after a Nigerian Air Force plane crashed killing all 25 people on board, the country has escaped a fresh disaster, after a male passenger travelling from Nairobi to Lagos on a Kenya Airways flight tried to force the door of the flying aircraft open mid-flight, before it eventually landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The apparently agitated passenger had attempted to open the cockpit and fuselage doors before he was restrained on Tuesday.
While force-tied to the seat, he later became unresponsive and was pronounced dead.
The Nigerian Air Force plane was flying from Benin to Lagos on Monday morning when it crashed, in Ondo State, killing all five crew members and 20 passengers.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the tragic incident, revealing that it occurred on Tuesday night, roughly 20 minutes before the aircraft was scheduled to land.
NCAA further revealed that the police had taken over investigations into the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s death.
Kenya Airways, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said its crew had responded by administering first aid and activating the appropriate emergency procedures after the medical emergency occurred at about 9:20 pm.
Kenya Airways said medical personnel were waiting when the aircraft landed at 9:41pm and subsequently confirmed that the passenger had died.
“One of our passengers was found to be unresponsive approximately 20 minutes before landing in Lagos,” the airline said.
“Upon landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 21:41 hrs, the aircraft was met by medical personnel, and upon further examination, the medical personnel confirmed that the passenger had passed away,” the airline stated.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said Kenya Airways’ country manager had briefed the authority and that the matter had since been handed over to the police.
“The country manager had woken me up this morning to say their own side of the story, and the police will start their own investigations,” Achimugu said.
He explained that the passenger was reportedly being returned to Madagascar after customs authorities had refused him entry into the country.
According to Achimugu, Kenya Airways was responsible for transporting the passenger back because it had brought him into the country.
“The country manager said he was picked from Madagascar, after customs had earlier denied him entry into the country, and as expected, the airline that brought him into the country must take him back,” he said.
Achimugu further alleged that the passenger became agitated during the flight and tried to access the cockpit before attempting to open the aircraft’s rear door.
He said the passenger was restrained with his hands tied behind his back in an effort to prevent further disruption and protect other passengers and crew members.
“When he got into the aircraft, he became restless and aggressive inside the aircraft, wanted to enter the cockpit and later wanted to open the rear door, but was later tied down,” he said.
The NCAA official said the passenger was pronounced dead after the aircraft arrived in Nigeria, adding that he would not pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing police investigation.
“But when he got to Nigeria, he was declared dead on arrival. I don’t want to preempt the police investigation, but they have taken it over for now,” Achimugu said.
He added that an autopsy could be requested by the deceased passenger’s family as the investigation progresses.
“I know the family may want an autopsy, but that is the current situation,” he said.
Kenya Airways expressed sympathy to the deceased’s relatives and friends, saying it was cooperating with the family, aviation regulators and relevant authorities.
“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused,” the airline said.
