Flight diversion: More trouble for United Nigeria Airlines, as FG orders probes within 72hrs

Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, has ordered the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to investigate the incident leading to the diversion of an Abuja-bound flight operated by the United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) which was diverted to Asaba in Delta State, last Sunday.

The flight was reported diverted to Asaba without the knowledge of passengers and flight crew, with the airline issuing a statement claiming the decision was informed by bad weather.

The bemused passengers, however, alleged that the error may have been caused by a wrong flight plan handed to the pilots, instead of the ‘bad weather’ explanation adduced by the airline management.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed rhe directive to the NSIB to investigate the incident, said the agency is to conclude its investigation ‘within 72 hours’ following the incident of flight diversion by United Nigeria Air.

Mr. Keyamo, while addressing aviation correspondents, insisted that bad weather was not the cause of the diversion.

“No such report was received from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet). Rather, it was a question of the wet lease plane, where the pilots and the crew were all foreigners not Nigerians, who were unfamiliar with the Nigerian terrain,” Keyamo said.

The minister explained that the (control) tower kept on asking the pilots to confirm repeatedly that they are headed for Abuja not Asaba but “the pilot replied, No, I am going to Asaba that’s the transcript we got by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.”

The Minister gave a ten-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau to investigate the incident and explain what happened.

“We have listened to the transcripts from the tower to the pilots. The transcript produced by Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA). It was clear that when the pilot was taking off from Lagos, he was headed to Asaba, not Abuja, where the flight ought to have headed,” Keyamo said.

Keyamo directed that henceforth all wet leases, involving foreign pilots and crew operating in Nigeria they must have a Nigeria pilot seated on the jump seat with a foreign pilot even if it’s for few hours or few days.

“I have also directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, that within the next 72 hours they should summon all pilots and Crew who are operating wet leases in Nigeria for further briefings because the lives of Nigerians were at stake they are flying Nigerians, and our primary duty is to protect Nigerians”.

Keyamo, who described the incident as ‘a failure of regulations,’ further adding that the aviation ministry must take precautionary steps to ensure the safety of the lives of Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau NSIB will investigate all the incidents that happened and provide Nigerians with factual reports over the incident.

“We are going to take concrete measures to avert the recurrence of such incident, and those that already happened, we will investigate the causes and ensure that whoever fails his duties is sanctioned.” The minister added.

The Minister noted that ‘very soon, all airline operators will begin paying compensation to passengers for flight delays and cancellations; if the reasons for delay and cancellations especially if it’s the airline found wanting.’

It would be recalled that the incident which left passengers disappointed was further worsened when the cabin crew announced to the passengers on touchdown that the plane has arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) when infact it was the Asaba International Airport, in Delta State.

The flight had departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos with the Abuja airport as destination.

In a statement, Monday, the NCAA said it has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion of the United Nigeria Airlines flight NUA 0506 to Asaba and the confusion it has created in the public domain.

This was disclosed in a–two paragraph statement signed by the Director General, DGCA, Capt. Musa Nuhu and made available to aviation journalists in Lagos.

The DGCA, however, said in the statement that the preliminary steps have been taken pending conclusions of the ongoing investigation, as he reassured 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.

On Sunday, passengers aboard a United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) operated flight bound for Abuja were left bemused after finding themselves at the Asaba International Airport, in Delta State shortly after takeoff from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos without prior notice by the cabin crew.

The incident which occurred last Sunday on a CRJ-model aircraft operated by the UNA was described by the astonished passengers as disappointing, just as the airline has moved to clarify that the flight was diverted to Asaba due to bad weather.

However, some passengers aboard the plane insist the mistake was due to a wrong flight plan delivered to the pilot.

The flight which has since been re-diverted to Abuja as all passengers disembarked same day at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) safely.

A passenger who identified himself as Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, who leaked the incident via his X handle, Sunday, said passengers aboard the flight were not notified by the crew on plans to divert the aircraft due to bad weather or any other issue, as they found themselves in Asaba minutes after take-off in Lagos.

Tanko-Yakasai, who is a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Kano, also added that it was after they landed that the airline immediately realized the wrong flight plan as they re-boarded for Abuja.

However, in a swift response, the UNA has denied wrongly diverting the flight as it claimed the decision was informed by bad weather and not wrong flight plan.

In a brief statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, UNA, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu titled;” Temporary Diversion Of Flight To Asaba, the airline said it diverted the flight due to safety reasons owing to bad weather.

 “A United Nigeria Airlines flight, NUA 0504, operating from the MM2 in Lagos enroute Abuja on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather.

“At all material time, the Pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed.

“However, a wrong announcement was made by the cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers,” the statement read.

The confusion was further heighted when the passengers claimed that the cabin crew made a wrong announcement on landing that the flight had landed in Abuja instead of Asaba.

While the problem was blamed on a lack communication between the cockpit crew and cabin crew, the passengers were left wondering over the confusion for long while still seated inside the plane.

Meanwhile, the airline also in its statement said it remained ‘committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers at all times.’