MMIA
Identity of stowaway inside United Airlines aircraft at Lagos airport revealed
Identity of a suspected stowaway found inside a parked United Airlines aircraft, Monday, has been revealed as one Rasheed Mufutau, a 14-year-old indigene of Kwara State who resides in Badagry, Lagos.
The teenage boy was discovered inside a parked aircraft belonging to the domestic carrier, at the local terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, in Lagos, ‘looking unkempt and suspected to be unconscious,’ the airline said.
Head of Corporate Communications, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, in a statement said the stowaway was discovered during the pre-flight inspection Monday morning, adding also that the incident ‘will result in rescheduling of some flights to accommodate the investigations.’
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) security services immediately launched an investigation which they called a security breach at MMA2.
However, BASL, operators of the Murtala Muhammed domestic terminal two (MMA2) on Monday revealed the identity of the stowaway found inside an aircraft at the airport on Sunday.
BASL in a statement identified the stowaway as Rasheed Mufutau, 14, an indigene of Kwara State who lives in Badagry, Lagos.
According to the statement, the suspected stowaway reportedly told investigators he ‘was tired of the country and wanted to travel out.’
The statement by the Head of Media at BASL, Oluwatosin Onalaja, disclosed that the teenager told investigators that he gained access into the airside through an opening at Ile-Zik, FAAN’s perimeter fence along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.
“At around 6:10 a.m. on Sunday 4th September 2022, United Nigeria (the Airline) informed Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL) of a 14-year-old stowaway boy found unconscious inside one of their aircraft.
“The boy was brought out of the aircraft and taken to the MMA2 clinic for first aid medical attention. He was later transferred for further treatment to the FAAN clinic where he regained consciousness at 10:20 am.
“Upon further interrogation by a combined team of BASL AVSEC and FAAN Aviation Security Officers, the following information was obtained from the boy; His name is Rasheed Mufutau, a 14-years-old boy who lives in Badagry but hails from Kwara State.
“He is an orphan. Mufutau gained access into the airside through an opening at Ile- Zik along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway and he intended to travel, as he was tired of the country.
“He passed through General Aviation Terminal, Air Force hanger and walked down to MMA2 where he hid at the Apron. He saw staff on duty at GAT and Air Force hanger but dodged them and passed through the bush. He became unconscious as a result of the drugs he took and a lack of ventilation.
“We are an active part of the ongoing investigation to ascertain exactly what happened and to aid the prevention of any such occurrence in the future.
“The safety and comfort of our customers remain our utmost priority and we continue to ensure that the MMA2 terminal remains a safe zone of operation,” the BASL statement read.
