A British Airways flight from London to Abuja was diverted to Barcelona in the early hours of Monday after a retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal from Anambra State died onboard.
The flight departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, and was scheduled to land at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 5:00 a.m. Monday. Around 1:30 a.m., the pilot declared a medical emergency, diverting the aircraft to El Prat Airport in Barcelona.
Sources said the deceased, believed to be in his early 80s, had been ill and was returning to Nigeria for further treatment when he passed away mid-flight. He was among the few surviving retired air vice marshals from Anambra State.
The incident caused distress among passengers, with confusion onboard reportedly triggering a second medical emergency involving a pregnant woman. Her condition was not immediately confirmed.
British Airways apologised for the disruption and assured passengers 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. We acknowledge the inconvenience and thank passengers for their patience and understanding,” the airline said.
The airline confirmed that a replacement aircraft would continue the journey to Abuja. The new flight departed Barcelona at 2:50 p.m. local time, with arrival expected around 5:45 p.m. Nigerian time.
