Aviation
Saudi Airlines Leaves 401 Kano-Bound Passengers Stranded in Abuja
Saudi Airlines has come under heavy criticism after abandoning 401 Kano-bound passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for close to 48 hours, a situation that reportedly triggered tension and raised serious security concerns.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that bad weather in Kano initially forced the airline to divert its flight to Abuja. However, the regulatory body faulted Saudi Airlines for failing to make adequate arrangements to transport the stranded passengers to their final destination.
This development was disclosed in a statement posted on Monday by the NCAA’s spokesperson, Mr Michael Achimugu, on his verified X handle, where he revealed that he was personally involved in efforts to de-escalate the crisis at the airport.
Achimugu described the incident as one of the most intense moments of his professional life, stating:
“Yesterday, I had to make a U-turn while heading to my barber’s shop after receiving reports of a valid threat of extreme violence from stranded Saudi Airlines passengers in Abuja.”
According to him, other airlines were also diverted to Abuja due to the same weather conditions in Kano. However, while those airlines made alternative travel arrangements for their passengers, Saudi Airlines allegedly returned to its base without ensuring that its passengers reached Kano.
Achimugu recounted standing amid more than 200 visibly angry passengers, many of whom had spent hours without clear information on when or how they would complete their journey.
“I stood amidst over 200 angry passengers, pacifying, reprimanding and resolving. This is the most adrenaline-rushing part of my job. It requires tact, firmness, wisdom and teamwork. But it is risky. Some passengers are extremely violent,” he said.
In one particularly tense encounter, Achimugu revealed that an angry passenger threatened to assault him.
The statement added:
“I looked at him. Initially, I was angry. But I saw the worry in his eyes and decided to handle him differently. We ended up talking. We became best friends. He even invited me to his Lagos residence.”
While acknowledging that Saudi Airlines does not operate an operational base in Abuja, a factor that complicated logistics, the NCAA maintained that the situation could have been handled more professionally.
Achimugu further disclosed that he later met with the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, where he stressed that no airline would be allowed to operate in Nigeria without complying with the country’s consumer protection regulations.
Commending the intervention of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), particularly its Regional General Manager, Achimugu said the stranded passengers were eventually airlifted in batches using three UMZA flights.
He explained:
“The first aircraft departed Abuja for Kano with 74 passengers and four crew members. The second carried 73 passengers and four crew members.
The third and final flight conveyed 34 passengers. In total, 189 passengers were successfully transported to Kano.”
According to the NCAA, Saudi Airlines has committed to compensating the affected passengers.
Reflecting on the resolution of the incident, Achimugu said:
“This brings to an end a disruption of almost 48 hours that began as force majeure, transitioned into poor passenger handling, and ended with a strong display of effective teamwork, from the Minister to the DGCA and down to our hardworking Consumer Protection Officers.”
Efforts to obtain a response from Saudi Airlines were unsuccessful, as the airline is neither domiciled in Nigeria nor operates an information office in the country. Emails sent to the airline by correspondents had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report.
