HUNDREDS of returning Nigerian pilgrims were stranded aboard a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on Saturday after the aircraft was diverted from Kano due to adverse weather conditions, leaving passengers confined for over nine hours without food, water, and amid what passengers described as repeated excuses and poor communication.
News Point Nigeria reports that the flight, which was scheduled to land at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) at about 1:00pm, was redirected to Abuja as a safety precaution following reports of severe weather conditions in Kano.
Although the aircraft touched down safely in the federal capital at approximately 1:24pm, passengers remained trapped inside the plane until around 10:17pm.
Despite the prolonged delay, no food, water, or welfare support was provided to the passengers during the nine-hour confinement.
The situation worsened when the passengers were eventually allowed to disembark late in the night without any arrangement for accommodation or feeding.
According to passengers, the only information communicated to them was that they should return to the airport by 12:00pm on Sunday for further instructions on how they would be transported back to Kano.
“For many of us, Abuja is actually our final destination,” one of the stranded passengers told News Point Nigeria. “Even if we had landed in Kano as planned, we would still have needed to connect to Abuja.
“While we understand the diversion for safety reasons, keeping us locked inside the aircraft for hours without information or even a cup of water is unacceptable.”
Concerns escalated as reports emerged that some passengers particularly the elderly and other vulnerable pilgrims fell ill during the ordeal.
Anxiety peaked when passengers were allegedly informed at some point that bureaucratic issues at the Abuja airport could result in them being returned to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Some of our family members are sick on board right now,” another distressed passenger said. “The stress of the long journey, combined with this unnecessary delay and lack of basic care, is taking a serious toll. It is frustrating and dehumanising.”
As of the time of filing this report, repeated attempts by News Point Nigeria to obtain an official response from the management of Saudi Arabian Airlines proved unsuccessful, as calls to the airline’s designated contact lines went unanswered.
However, a staff member of Saudi Arabian Airlines, who pleaded anonymity, told News Point Nigeria that the airline was in discussions with FAAN officials to secure accommodation and feeding for the stranded passengers until arrangements could be made for their onward journey the next day.
According to the airline staff, the delay was triggered by a disagreement over funding.
“They were liaising with FAAN authorities on how to arrange accommodation and feeding for the passengers until the next day, when arrangements would be made for a local flight to their final destination,” the source said.
“But FAAN insisted that Saudi Airline should release funds to them before such arrangements could be made, and that is where the delay started.”
The source further explained that after passengers were eventually allowed to disembark, airport officials informed them that those with relatives in Abuja could proceed home and return to the airport the following afternoon by 12:00pm, when a local flight would be arranged to transport them to Kano.
Passengers whose final destination was Abuja were told they could go home directly.