Passenger On Nairobi-Lagos Flight Dies Shortly Before Landing

A passenger travelling from Nairobi to Lagos on a Kenya Airways flight has died after reportedly becoming unresponsive shortly before the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night, with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirming that the police had taken over investigations into the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s death.

Kenya Airways, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the medical emergency occurred at about 9:20pm, roughly 20 minutes before the aircraft was scheduled to land.

“One of our passengers was found to be unresponsive approximately 20 minutes before landing in Lagos,” the airline said.

According to the airline, its crew responded immediately by administering first aid and activating the appropriate emergency procedures.

Kenya Airways said medical personnel were waiting when the aircraft landed at 9:41pm and subsequently confirmed that the passenger had died.

“Upon landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 21:41 hrs, the aircraft was met by medical personnel, and upon further examination, the medical personnel confirmed that the passenger had passed away,” the airline stated.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said the authority had been briefed by Kenya Airways’ country manager and that the matter had since been handed over to the police.

“The country manager had woken me up this morning to say their own side of the story, and the police will start their own investigations,” Achimugu said.

He explained that the passenger was reportedly being returned to Madagascar after customs authorities had refused him entry into the country.
According to Achimugu, Kenya Airways was responsible for transporting the passenger back because it was the airline that had brought him into the country.

“The country manager said he was picked from Madagascar, after customs had earlier denied him entry into the country, and as expected, the airline that brought him into the country must take him back,” he said.

Achimugu further alleged that the passenger became agitated during the flight and attempted to access the cockpit before subsequently trying to open the aircraft’s rear door.

He said the passenger was restrained with his hands tied behind his back in an effort to prevent further disruption and protect other passengers and crew members.

“When he got into the aircraft, he became restless and aggressive inside the aircraft, wanted to enter the cockpit and later wanted to open the rear door, but was later tied down,” he said.

The NCAA official said the passenger was pronounced dead after the aircraft arrived in Nigeria, adding that he would not pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing police investigation.

“But when he got to Nigeria, he was declared dead on arrival. I don’t want to preempt the police investigation, but they have taken it over for now,” Achimugu said.

He added that an autopsy could be requested by the deceased passenger’s family as the investigation progresses.

“I know the family may want an autopsy, but that is the current situation,” he said.

Kenya Airways expressed sympathy to the deceased’s relatives and friends, saying it was cooperating with the family, aviation regulators and relevant authorities.

“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused,” the airline said.

The carrier also said it was respecting the privacy and dignity of those affected while providing support to the family.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that investigations had commenced. A spokesperson for the Airport Command, Muhammed Adeola, said the deceased’s body had been deposited at a morgue in Ikeja.

He also disclosed that investigators had obtained statements from members of the flight crew, including the aircraft’s captain.

“Yes, it’s true, and investigations have commenced. It’s an issue of an inadmissible passenger, and the said complications arose on their way back. He was unable to breathe, and medical officers were alerted before the aircraft landed. However, upon landing, he was confirmed to have died,” Adeola said.

“His body is at a morgue in Ikeja for further investigation,” he added.

The police investigation is expected to establish the events surrounding the passenger’s conduct during the flight and the circumstances that preceded his death.