By Sade Ayodele, Correspondent, Lagos

British Airways (BA) has apologised to Nigeria over the maltreatment meted out to Nigerian passengers at Heathrow Airport in London five weeks ago.

A statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by BA Media Consultant, Ademola Adedoyin, expressed "regret (for) the upset that the events onboard the BA75 to Lagos on 27th March have caused in Nigeria.

"We have made it clear that the decision to offload passengers was made in consultation with, and on the advice of, the United Kingdom police; and the sole aim of this decision was to ensure the safety of our passengers, aircraft, and crew.

"Offloading passengers is not a decision that is taken lightly, and is a rare occurrence. However, the disturbance on board the BA75 service to Lagos on Thursday 27th March was a very serious incident which required the presence of 20 uniformed police officers to regain control of the situation."

Adedoyin added that the commotion made it dangerous to travel on the aircraft.

"Given the level of disruption on board the plane as it was preparing to depart, it was not possible to pinpoint which passengers were the most involved. In addition, our crew was subjected to both verbal abuse and physical assault which, in the confined space of an aircraft, can be a particularly serious issue.

"Hence the police decided, with the agreement of the captain, that it would be unwise to let all the passengers travel on the aircraft as their behaviour could pose a safety risk.

"Of the 133 passengers offloaded following the disturbance 64 re-boarded the flight before take-off. Those offloaded were of various nationalities, including British and American passengers. There was also a mix of nationalities among those who flew, including Nigerian passengers.

"The arrest and detention of one of the passengers involved was a police decision, and is not something that British Airways can comment on. The remaining offloaded passengers were offered overnight accommodation where appropriate, and were re-booked on alternative flights."

Adedoyi said BA is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure the high standard operations between Nigeria and the U.K. continues.

"British Airways has a long and proud history of serving Nigeria and its people. For over 70 years the airline has flown from the UK to Nigeria, connecting the country to the rest of the world."

The passenger who spoke up for other Nigerians and the deportee on the flight, Ayodeji Omotade, and others had asked BA to apologise, and to withdraw the six months' ban on him by the airline.

Outrage over the incident made President Umaru Yar'Adua to order an investigation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
British Airways Apologises To Nigeria

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na the pounds sterling weu dem dey lose all these while make them apologize abi? My travel agent wan book me flight and she mention BA as per fitting my itinerary, and I told her I am a Nigerian (she is ghanian), she just said, "I understand"....

They have lost something.... unless they will offer Nigerians certain percent off flights for certain number of months..... because, given, their 1-year ticket validity is fine sha o!

how embarassing....no shame whatsoever.

"Given the level of disruption on board the plane as it was preparing to depart, it was not possible to pinpoint which passengers were the most involved. In addition, our crew was subjected to both verbal abuse and physical assault which, in the confined space of an aircraft, can be a particularly serious issue. "

they even got their Nigerian employee to make the statement. Just too sad abeg.

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Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6


www.my-fish-bowl.blogspot.com <---- Visit my blog!!!

Ironic, ain't it?

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Very!

So unfortunate i don buy my ticket fom before before! Nonsense and BA!

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Ha hah hahaaaaaaaaa this is getting better and better by the day....sure...stick the Nigerian employee in the frontline to apologise to the Nigerian people!!! bloody mess!

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RIP Pastor Ify Irukwu ....

Baba E se o!

ehrm, i'm on BA's side oh...............ok.

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Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6


www.my-fish-bowl.blogspot.com <---- Visit my blog!!!

I gathered...but it's still ironic.

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I dont see it as necessary to state that one is on this person's side or another...what is RIGHT is right, and what is WRONG is wrong...there are am sure 10 other ways BA on that PARTICULAR flight, could have gone in getting their message across, getting the deported person to Nigeria, and also RESPECTING people....this is what most of the outcry is about...plain old DISRESPECT!!! YES Nigerians MAY act up from time to time, but we are NOT animals. Even though I was not on this flight, from my own experience, and that of family members, am sure this practice of many of these airlines treating us like $hit has been going on for so long, and if no one had spoken out about it, it would still continue.....


If someone acts unruly on a flight, deal with them on an individual basis, dont for the sake of that, now throway 100+ passengers from your aircraft...these people paid hard earned money to fly your airline,..that is the height of showing no respect...and the day ANY airline treats me in a way that they should not, they will seriously regret it...I WILL SUE THEM FOR ALL THEY HAVE!

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RIP Pastor Ify Irukwu ....

Baba E se o!

This is not over. They used a Nigerian to offer this crappy apology

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Thank you o.
Please help me tell them,,,,

Ok fine. Were their employees really physically assaulted. Does anyone actually know someone that was on the flight? I want to know o

Reason why it should NOT be accepted. I'm never flying BA again, ever.

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Good question.
But lets be honest. I cant really see Nigerians physically assaulting cabin crew. Worse case, they will raise voices and point fingers.
Not impossible, but unlikely.

wowwwwww

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