Shocker as United Nigeria Airlines flight from Lagos to Abuja, lands in Asaba
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A United Nigeria Airlines flight that left Lagos for Abuja on Sunday, mysteriously landed in Asaba, Delta State to the shock of passengers and the airline pilot that had earlier confidently announced “welcome to Abuja.”
Among the passengers in the airline that traveled the wrong destination is Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the March 18 governorship election in Kano.
He posted on X, “Nigeria my country. We departed Lagos about an hour ago on @flyunitedng 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. Apparently, our pilot was given wrong flight plan from Lagos.”
But the United Nigeria Airlines later issued a statement claiming it was a flight diversion due to bad weather and not an error.
The airline, through its Head, Corporate Services, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, said, in a statement titled, ‘Temporary diversion of flight to Asaba,’ that the flight diversion was due to “poor destination weather.”
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Uchegbu noted that the flight NUA 0504, operating from the Murtala Muhammad Airport II terminal (MMA2) in Lagos, made the temporary diversion to Asaba International Airport for safety reasons.
He said: “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 cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers.
“Meanwhile, the aircraft has landed safely in Abuja following improvement on destination weather.
“United Nigeria Airlines remains committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers at all times.”
But Tanko, in another post, faulted the airline, saying the pilot notified them that he received the wrong flight plan, the reason they landed in Asaba.
He said: “Either the pilot misinformed us, or they’re doing damage control. But when we landed in Asaba, he (pilot) announced that he received the wrong flight plan.”