Aviation authority probes mysterious flight diversion
Passengers on a United Nigeria flight, with registration NUA 0504, experienced bewilderment on Sunday when their journey from Lagos Airport to Abuja took an unexpected detour, leading to an unplanned landing at Asaba airport in Delta State.
The flight, operating from Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MM2), had taken off from Lagos, expecting to reach the nation’s capital, Abuja.
However, passengers were left in the dark about the diversion until the aircraft touched down in Asaba.
United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited swiftly responded to the confusion, asserting that the pilot was aware of the route change to Asaba due to adverse weather conditions.
In a statement, the airline explained, “At all material time, the pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed. However, the wrong information was made by cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba creating confusion among the passengers.”
Passengers, irked by the unexpected diversion and the subsequent delay in reaching their destinations, raised complaints. In response, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unscheduled change of destination.
“However, preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of ongoing investigation. The Authority wishes to reassure the traveling public that it will leave no stone unturned as it has always done in the past to ensure continued safety of the aviation industry,” the aviation management stated in a released statement.
Expressing his frustration, one passenger, Dawisu, sarcastically suggested that the pilot might have received an incorrect flight plan from Lagos.
“We departed Lagos about an hour ago to Abuja, and upon arrival, the cabin crew confidently announced that we’ve arrived Abuja, only for us to realize that we landed in Asaba,” Dawisu lamented in a post on his X account platform.
As the investigation unfolds, passengers and industry observers await further clarification on the events leading to the unexpected flight diversion.