Passengers aboard a United Nigeria Airlines Limited aircraft were taken by surprise when their Abuja-bound flight unexpectedly landed at Asaba International Airport in Delta State, sparking confusion among travelers.
Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, a passenger and the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Kano State, shared the ordeal on his social media handle.
He described how the aircraft crew confidently announced their arrival in Abuja, only for passengers to realize they had landed in Asaba, as disclosed in a post at approximately 4:22 p.m. on Sunday.
Tanko-Yakasai posted a photo of passengers inside the aircraft, illustrating the unexpected situation they encountered.
Another passenger, Augustine Macky, uploaded a video capturing fellow passengers expressing dismay and frustration over the incident, depicting their feelings of shock.
In a jesting tone, Tanko-Yakasai later quipped about the unplanned landing, expressing hopes of not ending up in Osogbo next.
Meanwhile, United Nigeria Airlines addressed the occurrence, confirming the incident in a statement. Spokesperson Uchegbu Achilleus-Chud clarified that the aircraft, NUA 0504, was diverted to Asaba International Airport due to adverse destination weather conditions.
Achilleus-Chud attributed the confusion to an erroneous announcement by the cabin crew upon landing while affirming that the pilot was fully aware of the temporary diversion and properly briefed on the situation.
The spokesperson reassured that the aircraft had safely resumed its journey to Abuja following an improvement in the weather conditions at the initial destination, emphasizing the airline’s unwavering commitment to passenger safety.
