Nigerian travelers aboard an Air France flight from Paris to Abuja have been unexpectedly diverted to Chad.
The onward Nigerian passengers in the aircraft are stranded at the N’Djamena airport with no word from Air France clarifying their situation nor what their next options are.
Their aircraft was travelling from Paris enroute to Abuja, when it pivoted and landed at the Chadian airport, disembarking all passengers including onward travellers to Abuja.
Minister Grawls
A displeased Nigerian Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the embarrassing situation in a post on his social media handle on Saturday, June 1.
“It has come to my attention that some Nigerians on an Air France flight from Paris to Abuja are presently stranded in Chad, from where the flight earlier dropped some passengers“, the minister reported.
Keyamo urged Air France to “immediately issue a statement on the fate of those Nigerians.”
More tellingly, the Minister threatened he has called on the “Consumer Protection Department of NCAA to swing into action and engage Air France”—an activity that could potentially lead to sanctioning of the airline if anti-customer practices were detected.
In a video circulating online, about seven of the passengers of the diverted plane were seen lamenting the situation, with one describing it as a “mess“, and calling on the minister to take action.
Air France Apologizes
After the minister showed his teeth and claws, Air France responded from Paris four hours later. The airline provided some explanation about the stranded passengers.
Attempting to explain away what many online commentators were beginning to describe as an example of disdain and disregard for Nigerian passengers by foreign airlines, Air France clarified that the situation arose due to weather conditions and technical challenges.
The airline posted on its twitter handle, “Our flight AF878, scheduled to connect N’Djamena to Abuja, then Paris-Charles de Gaulle, on Friday, May 31, 2024, has been canceled due to a heavy storm in N’Djamena. Before takeoff, the aircraft A330’s hull was damaged. The aircraft is grounded in N’Djamena”.
It claims it took the decision to land at N’Djamena because “the safety of our customers and crews is our absolute imperative.”
Air France promised to “accommodate all customers in hotels guaranteeing the best conditions of safety and comfort, in the vicinity of N’Djamena airport” and that the passengers will be evacuated to Abuga in flights on “Sunday June 2 at 7.45 pm (landing in Abuja at 9.15 pm), and the other part will be able to board AF 4191 on Monday June 3 at 8.15 am (landing in Abuja at 10.15 am)”.
It apologized for the “inconvenience caused by this situation”.
The Minister’s action underscores how ministerial proactivity could help to ensure Nigerians get better deals from foreign entities often accused of disrespect and contempt in dealing with Nigerians and Nigerian interests.
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