A BRITISH Airways (BA) flight from London to Abuja was forced to make an emergency diversion to Barcelona, Spain, in the early hours of Monday after a retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal from Anambra State reportedly died mid-air.
News Point Nigeria reports that the flight, which departed London’s Heathrow Airport at about 11:00pm on Sunday, October 5, was scheduled to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 5:00am on Monday.
However, the journey took a tragic turn when the pilot declared a medical emergency around 1:30 a.m., prompting the aircraft to divert to El Prat Airport, Barcelona, for an emergency landing.
According to airline and family sources, the deceased, said to be in his early 80s, had been battling a health condition and was returning to Nigeria for further medical care before his sudden demise during the flight.
He was reportedly one of the few surviving retired Air Vice Marshals from Anambra State, and his passing has thrown both his family and the military community into mourning.
Passengers aboard the flight were left in shock and distress following the sudden death.
A passenger told News Point Nigeria that cabin crew made repeated calls for medical personnel on board, but efforts to resuscitate the former air force officer were unsuccessful.
The tense atmosphere reportedly triggered a second medical emergency, involving a pregnant woman who experienced distress amid the confusion.
Her condition could not be immediately confirmed as of press time.
Airport medics and Spanish emergency officials were on standby when the aircraft landed in Barcelona, where the deceased’s remains were formally offloaded, and the woman received medical attention.
In a message to passengers obtained by this newspaper, British Airways expressed condolences over the incident and apologised for the inconvenience caused by the unplanned diversion.
“Passengers are advised to expect an email with more information and can reach out to the airline’s Live Chat feature for support. British Airways acknowledges the inconvenience and thanks passengers for their patience and understanding,” the airline said.
The airline confirmed that a replacement aircraft had been arranged to complete the journey to Abuja.
Initially scheduled to depart Barcelona at 2:00pm local time and arrive in Abuja by 7:00pm, the airline later revised the departure time to 2:50pm, with an expected arrival in Nigeria at 5:45pm local time.
“We are deeply sorry for the disruption and are doing everything possible to ensure our customers reach their destination safely and comfortably,” British Airways added in a statement.
Though official confirmation from Nigeria’s Air Force headquarters was still being awaited as at press time, a military source told News Point Nigeria that the late officer as a patriotic and disciplined gentleman who contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian Air Force before retiring.