There was confusion aboard a British Airways flight from London to Abuja after a retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal reportedly died mid-air, prompting the aircraft to make an emergency diversion to Barcelona, Spain, in the early hours of Monday.
The flight, which departed London’s Heathrow Airport around 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, was scheduled to land at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 5:00 a.m. Monday.
However, at about 1:30 a.m., the pilot declared a medical emergency when the elderly passenger—believed to be in his early 80s and from Anambra State—suddenly became critically ill. Despite efforts by cabin crew and medical personnel on board, he was later confirmed dead mid-flight.
Sources told Daily Trust that the retired Air Vice Marshal had been ill before the trip and was being flown back to Nigeria for further medical attention when he passed away. He was said to be one of the few surviving senior air officers from Anambra State.
The incident reportedly caused panic among passengers, with several witnesses recounting moments of distress as efforts were made to revive the deceased. Amid the commotion, a pregnant woman reportedly experienced a health scare, though her condition could not be immediately confirmed as of press time.
Following the emergency, the aircraft was diverted to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, where local authorities and emergency responders attended to the situation.
British Airways, in a message to affected passengers, apologised for the disruption and assured them of support.
“Passengers are advised to expect an email with more information and can reach out to the airline’s Live Chat feature for support. British Airways acknowledges the inconvenience and appreciates passengers’ patience and understanding,” the airline said.
The airline confirmed that a replacement aircraft would complete the trip to Abuja. Initially scheduled to depart Barcelona at 2:00 p.m. local time and arrive in Abuja by 7:00 p.m., the departure was later rescheduled for 2:50 p.m., with arrival expected around 5:45 p.m. Nigerian time.
