On Saturday evening, the airline, instead of landing at Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport Umuleri (ANA), mistakenly landed an Anambra-bound flight at Asaba International Airport (ABB). The unusual cause behind this diversion was that the owner of the airline was reportedly waiting to use the plane.
A passenger, identified as Black Sheep (@9jaDisciple), brought attention to the situation through a post and accompanying videos shared with West Africa Weekly. According to the passenger, the flight, initially scheduled for 10:30 am, departed around 4 pm after an unexplained five-hour delay. The issues didn’t end there for the passengers, as they were served only a “bread roll and tiny chivita,” and the aircraft, which had just enough time to reach its destination, landed at the wrong airport.
The passenger explained, “When we boarded, turns out the crew had just enough hours to fly into Awka & no more. However, @flyunitedng flew us to Abuja, changed pilot and crew, then flew us into Asaba.” This inconvenient detour between the two locations, over 40 km apart with an estimated one-hour drive, left passengers frustrated, including nursing mothers, babies, children, and those who had been at the airport since 7 am.
The situation escalated when passengers protested, only to face brazenness from the crew, leading to an assault on a passenger. To the dismay of the stranded travelers, it was later revealed that Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, the owner of the airline, was at the airport waiting to use the plane. He reportedly boarded and flew away in the same plane, leaving some passengers stranded at the airport until 10 pm.
Expressing dissatisfaction, @9jaDisciple quoted the owner, “We should be grateful we arrived safely. Next, he said, ‘We didn’t even make money on this trip.'” The passenger, determined to seek justice, declared an intention to take the matter to court. This incident echoes a previous controversy in November, referred to as the “Abuja/Asaba fiasco,” which led to the suspension of all wet-leased aircraft in the airline’s operations.
As Nigerians call on the Federal Ministry of Aviation, led by Fetus Keyamo, to intervene, concerns about the irregularities and the need for addressing such pick-and-drop affairs in the airline industry are raised. The unfolding story will be monitored, and updates will be provided as the situation develops. Fly safe!