Passenger dies on Nairobi-Lagos Kenya Airways flight

A passenger traveling on a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi to Lagos passed away after suffering a medical emergency about 20 minutes before landing on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:20 pm WAT on October 6, after the flight attendants administered first aid after noticing that the passenger was unresponsive. But medical personnel who boarded the aircraft upon its 9:41 pm landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport confirmed that he had died.

According to aviation regulators, the deceased was an inadmissible passenger who had been denied entry by customs authorities in Madagascar. Under standard international civil aviation rules, Kenya Airways was required to transport him back.

Based on the report by the airport security officials, the passenger suffered acute breathing complications while on the return flight to Nigeria.

Kenya Airways have already confirmed the tragedy in an official press statement, offering sympathies to the passenger’s relatives.

“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused,” the airline stated, adding that it is coordinating with local authorities, aviation regulators, and the family.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), confirmed that police authorities have stepped in to investigate the death.

Spokesperson for the Airport Police Command, Muhammed Adeola, stated that law enforcement officers have already interviewed the aircraft’s crew.

“Yes, it’s true, and investigations have commenced,” Adeola said. “Statements have been taken from the flight attendants, including the captain of the aircraft. His body is at a morgue in Ikeja for further investigation.

The deceased’s body has been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) morgue in Ikeja while police and aviation regulators work to determine the exact cause of death.