By agency reports
A British Airways flight en route from London to Abuja was forced to make an emergency diversion to Barcelona following the death of a retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal onboard.
The aircraft had departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, 5 October, and was scheduled to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja by 5:00 a.m. on Monday.
However, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the pilot declared a medical emergency and rerouted the flight to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain.
Sources confirmed that the deceased, who is from Anambra State and believed to be in his early 80s, was one of the few surviving retired air vice marshals.
He had reportedly been unwell and was travelling back to Nigeria for further medical treatment when he passed away mid-flight.
The incident reportedly caused distress among passengers, with confusion onboard triggering a second medical emergency involving a pregnant woman, whose condition remained unconfirmed at the time of reporting.
British Airways issued a statement to passengers acknowledging the disruption and offering support.
The airline confirmed that a replacement aircraft would resume the journey to Abuja.
Initially scheduled to depart Barcelona at 2:00 p.m. local time and arrive in Abuja at 7:00 p.m., the flight was later rescheduled to depart at 2:50 p.m., with arrival expected around 5:45 p.m. Nigerian time.
