A British Airways flight 83 from London’s Hearthrow Airport, en-route the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, landed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.
The flight’s rerouting to land in Lagos was in response to the security alert raised by the United States, alongside the United Kingdom, Cannada and Australia, over imminent terror attacks on Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
The action sparked off fit of rage among the passengers who were unhappy that their flight was diverted to Lagos.
According to some of the passengers, there was no initial announcement of the flight diversion except a short email just before the aircraft landed in Lagos where they were subjected to a long delay by officials of British Airways whom the passengers described as unapologetic.
Some of the passengers stated that the email contained a notice indicating that the flight would proceed from Lagos to Abuja against initial plans.
One of the passengers, identified as Mr. Ojo, told airport correspondents that the passengers waited for over an hour at the Lagos airport
“We had a horrible experience on our journey from London to Abuja. The flight was delayed, we did not leave until 11:45 a.m., and then we got an email saying that they are bringing us to Lagos for 90 minutes wait.
“We landed in Lagos and then we waited for more than an hour. British Airways, unapologetic, asked everyone to come down.”
British Airways has yet to make any statement on the issue.
The UK government alongside those of the United States, Australia and Canada, had advised their nationals to avoid Abuja over potential terror attacks.
