Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said contrary to reports, Air France did not abandon Nigerians in N’djamena, Chad.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, said the plane had suffered a technical issue due to bad weather. He explained that they had provided the 61 Nigerians with feeding and accommodation, adding that they would be airlifted to Abuja latest Monday morning.
“Stranded isn’t quite the situation. They have been provided accommodation and feeding by the airline. They have not been abandoned.
“The aircraft developed a technical issue due to bad weather in N’djamena. Arrangements are being made for another aircraft to fly in from Charles de Gaulle Airport to convey the passengers to Abuja, latest Monday morning,” he told Vanguard.
Achimugu spoke after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, directed the consumer protection department of the NCAA to swing into action and engage the airline.
“It has come to my attention that Nigerians on an Air France flight from Paris to Abuja are presently stranded in Chad, from where the flight earlier dropped some passengers. I have immediately directed the Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA to swing into action and engage Air France. We shall inform everyone of the outcome soon. Meanwhile, I urge Air France to immediately issue a statement on the fate of the stranded Nigerians,” Keyamo wrote on X.
