Flying Touareg
25th Feb 2007, 12:16
An Owerri bound Aero aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja was at the weekend delayed for 86 minutes to allow security personnel carry out thorough search as demanded by passengers.
THISDAY learnt that two of the passengers that had already board the plane suddenly realised that they were on the wrong flight during on-board briefing by the crew and requested to leave the flight, after the engine of the aircraft had started revving and the door closed.
The action aroused the apprehension of the flight crew who invited security personnel to thoroughly search the plane with detailed attention to the two who were actually travelling to Lagos.
The affected passengers were later were given two options of either going with the aircraft to Owerri and return to Abuja or they would have to be detained at the airport until the aircraft safely arrived Owerri before they were released.
However, other passengers who felt suspicious about the development demanded that the aircraft must be searched before they depart the airport.
The Aero Station manager, Mr John Akwaji solicited the assistance of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) security personnel for the check.
All passengers were disembarked and a search was carried out by the FAAN security staff, the Bomb disposal personnel of the Nigerian Police and the State Security Service, SSS officials.
The aircraft was certified safe to fly and it departed the Abuja airport at 10.55am . It later left Owerri for Lagos at 11.21am .
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=71442
THISDAY learnt that two of the passengers that had already board the plane suddenly realised that they were on the wrong flight during on-board briefing by the crew and requested to leave the flight, after the engine of the aircraft had started revving and the door closed.
The action aroused the apprehension of the flight crew who invited security personnel to thoroughly search the plane with detailed attention to the two who were actually travelling to Lagos.
The affected passengers were later were given two options of either going with the aircraft to Owerri and return to Abuja or they would have to be detained at the airport until the aircraft safely arrived Owerri before they were released.
However, other passengers who felt suspicious about the development demanded that the aircraft must be searched before they depart the airport.
The Aero Station manager, Mr John Akwaji solicited the assistance of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) security personnel for the check.
All passengers were disembarked and a search was carried out by the FAAN security staff, the Bomb disposal personnel of the Nigerian Police and the State Security Service, SSS officials.
The aircraft was certified safe to fly and it departed the Abuja airport at 10.55am . It later left Owerri for Lagos at 11.21am .
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=71442