A retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal has died aboard a British Airways flight en route from London Heathrow Airport to Abuja, prompting an emergency landing in Barcelona, Spain.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, shortly after the aircraft departed London at 11:30 p.m. local time.
According to reports, the passenger, an octogenarian, was already ill before the journey began.
Sadly, he passed away less than two hours after takeoff.
Sources revealed that the retired officer was being flown back to Nigeria by his family for medical treatment before his condition worsened midair.
The pilot, upon being alerted to the situation, immediately diverted the flight and landed at El Prat Airport, Barcelona, at around 1:10 a.m.
The unexpected diversion caused hours of delay and confusion for passengers heading to Abuja. British Airways later confirmed that a replacement aircraft was being sent to Barcelona to continue the journey to Nigeria.
In a message to affected passengers, the airline apologized for the disruption and thanked them for their patience.
“We’d like to advise that the replacement aircraft for your flight to Abuja is now on its way,” the airline said in a statement.
“The estimated departure from Barcelona is 14:50 local time, with arrival into Abuja expected at approximately 17:45. We understand the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.”
Passengers were advised to check their emails for updates or contact the airline through its live chat support feature.
Confirmation
Though British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Mrs. Tutu Otuyalo, did not respond to calls or messages from reporters, other media outlets quoted her confirming the incident.
According to those reports, Otuyalo said the deceased passenger had a terminal illness before boarding.
She also expressed condolences to the bereaved family and apologized to passengers affected by the emergency diversion.
Background
British Airways, one of the UK’s flagship carriers, has operated the London–Abuja route for decades.
The airline is known for maintaining a strong safety record, though it has faced occasional incidents related to aircraft faults and passenger issues.
Earlier this year, a Lagos court ordered British Airways to pay ₦50 million in damages to a passenger over alleged mistreatment.
The airline has also been involved in operational adjustments, including offloading passengers due to safety checks.
The deceased officer’s name has not been officially released as of press time, pending notification of next of kin.
The incident adds to a series of recent in-flight medical emergencies involving elderly travelers returning home for treatment.
British Airways said normal flight operations to Abuja would resume once the replacement aircraft completed the diverted journey from Barcelona.