TodayPrice

Category: Aviation

  • NCAA gives Kenya Airways 48 hrs to apologise for passenger’s maltreatment

    NCAA gives Kenya Airways 48 hrs to apologise for passenger’s maltreatment

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday gave Kenya Airways 48 hours to apologise for the maltreatment of a Nigerian passenger, Gloria Omisore, in Nairobi.

    Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu, who disclosed this yesterday, said having summoned the airline over the incident, its team, comprising the Country Manager, James Nganga; Station Manager, Eric Mukira and Duty Manager, Ezenwa Ehumadu, admitted fault.

    According to him, the airline’s team also agreed that the statement put out by them about the incident was not reflective of the facts of the matter.

    Revealing the NCAA’s verdict over the incident on X, Achimugu stated: “The NCAA Consumer Protection Department thereby determined as follows: That Kenya Airways renders a public apology to the passenger and the NCAA.

    “That the airline issues an updated official statement that reflects the true events that happened in Nairobi. Ms Gloria did not refuse to fly to London as claimed in that statement.

    “The airline failed to admit that they permitted the passenger to purchase that ticket and that they failed to spot the problem from Lagos.

    “The statement also fails to inform the general public that the lady only became angry when she was asked to wait another 10 hours without accommodation and care.

    “The authority finds this very confusing and unacceptable. That the airline will refund and compensate the passenger for the avoidable humiliation she has suffered and the threats to her job.

    “Kenya Airways has asked for 72 hours to revert, but the authority has given the airline 48 hours. Truth should not be that hard to publish, given how hastily the misleading statement was put out there.”

    Recall that Kenya Airways had routed Omisore to travel from Nigeria through Nairobi, Paris and then to Manchester, the same route she had followed into the country.

    As Omisore was returning to Manchester, Kenya Airways, however, abandoned her in Nairobi upon claims that she didn’t have a Schengen visa, leading to a heated exchange of words between  her and the airline’s official.

    The video of the verbal altercation seen by Vanguard showed Omisore complaining about inhuman treatment by the airline, lamenting that she was not adequately taken care of, despite a 17-hour layover.

    In the footage, Omisore said: “You will provide a sanitary towel. I am speaking to the Minister of Finance of Nigeria. I want a hotel, I need a sanitary towel. You will give me food tonight. Very wicked set of people. 17 hours layover. I have blood clot issues.”

    However, a Kenya Airways staff was seen telling Omisore: “You can never enter our aircraft again. What kind of mannerism is this? Call your president. We will give you nothing.”

    Clarifying the incident after the NCAA summoned the airline to its headquarters in Abuja, Kenya Airways claimed that Omisore resorted to inappropriate behaviour by removing and throwing three used sanitary pads at its employees.

    The statement read: “The guest was travelling from Lagos to Paris, and Manchester. On arrival in Nairobi for her connecting flight (Nairobi-Paris), it was discovered that she did not have a SCHENGEN Visa, which is a requirement for her to enter any European Union country.

    “She was offered an alternative to travel through London and onward to Manchester, which she refused. Upon further investigation, we have established that the video does not provide full context.

    “Unhappy with this option, the guest demanded accommodation, which Kenya Airways does not provide in cases where boarding is denied due to visa requirements.

    “It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they have the necessary documentation for their journey. In a distressing turn of events, the guest resorted to inappropriate behaviour by removing and throwing three used sanitary pads at our employees.”

  • NCAA summons Kenya Airways over viral passenger clash

    NCAA summons Kenya Airways over viral passenger clash

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has summoned Kenya Airways to its headquarters in Abuja over a social media video showing a heated exchange between a maltreated Nigerian passenger and Kenya Airways agent at the transfer desk in Nairobi.

    This was followed by stiff criticism of the passenger by the airline, which stated that the Nigerian traveller behaved inappropriately to its employees by removing and throwing three used sanitary pads at them.

    A video of the intense exchange between a Kenya Airways staff and a Nigerian passenger, Gloria Omisore, travelling from Lagos to Nairobi, Paris and Manchester via the carrier surfaced on social media on Sunday.

    In the footage, Omisore could be seen complaining about inhumane treatment by the airline, lamenting that she was not adequately taken care of despite a 17-hour layover.

    Omisore said: “You will provide a sanitary towel. I am speaking to the Minister of Finance of Nigeria. I want a hotel, I need sanitary towel. You will give me food tonight. Very wicked set of people. 17 hours layover. I have blood clot issues.”

    However, the Kenya Airways staff member was seen telling Omisore: “You can never enter our aircraft again. What kind of mannerism is this? Call your president. We will give you nothing.”

    Reacting to the video on X, Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu, stated: “There is no excuse for unruly passenger behaviour. The airline staff are unprofessional. The airline must bear responsibility for what has happened to this passenger. The NCAA refers Kenya Airways to Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, and has summoned the airline to its headquarters in Abuja today, Monday, February 3, 2025. The authority is committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders.”

    Meanwhile, clarifying the incident, the airline stated: “The guest was travelling from Lagos to Paris and Manchester. On arrival in Nairobi for her connecting flight (Nairobi-Paris), it was discovered that she did not have a SCHENGEN Visa, which is a requirement for her to enter any European Union country. She was offered an alternative to travel through London and onward to Manchester, which she refused.

    “Upon further investigation, we have established that the video does not provide full context. Unhappy with this option, the guest demanded accommodation, which Kenya Airways does not provide in cases where boarding is denied due to visa requirements. It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they have the necessary documentation for their journey.

    “In a distressing turn of events, the guest resorted to inappropriate behaviour by removing and throwing three used sanitary pads at our employees.”

  • Medical jet with six people crashes in Philadelphia

    Medical jet with six people crashes in Philadelphia

    A medical jet with six Mexican nationals onboard crashed into a busy Philadelphia neighborhood Friday, authorities said, marking another US aviation disaster after a passenger plane and a military helicopter collided midair in Washington earlier this week.

    Video footage appeared to show the twin-engine plane descending at a sharp angle towards a residential area, sparking a huge fireball upon impact and showering wreckage over homes and vehicles.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft was a Learjet 55 — an American-French business jet — that had taken off shortly before from Northeast Philadelphia Airport bound for Branson, Missouri.

    The crash happened just after 6:00 pm (2300 GMT).

    A young girl who had been in the United States for medical care, her mother, and members of the flight and medical crews accompanying her onboard were killed in the crash, the children’s hospital that treated her told AFP.

    “The patient had received care from Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was being transported back to her home country in Mexico on a contracted air ambulance when the crash happened,” said Mel Bower, a spokesman for Shriners Children’s.

    All six of those onboard were Mexican citizens, the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

    “The airline company… confirmed to the consulate that six people of Mexican nationality were traveling on the aircraft,” the ministry wrote on X.

    The operator, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, confirmed in a statement to US media that there were two passengers and four crew, adding, “At this time, we cannot confirm any survivors.”

    Dozens of emergency workers were on the scene outside Roosevelt Mall, a strip mall in Northeast Philadelphia with retailers and food outlets.

    US President Donald Trump posted Friday on his Truth Social platform that he was “sad” to see “more souls lost” in the Philadelphia tragedy. He praised first responders, adding: “God Bless you all.”

    Witnesses told local TV crews that they saw body parts in or near the wreckage, as Philadelphia City Council member Mike Driscoll said he feared residents or others on the ground may have been killed.

    “It doesn’t look good. And it’s a sad situation here,” he told CNN.

    The FAA said it was launching an investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board.

    – Washington tragedy –

    Both agencies are already probing the deadliest US air disaster in almost a quarter century, after a passenger jet operated by an American Airlines subsidiary collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday.

    The airliner with 64 people onboard was landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington — just miles from the White House — when it collided with the US Army helicopter on a training mission.

    Divers were scouring Friday for the remaining bodies in the frigid Potomac River, after having pulled at least 41 from the water.

    Investigators on Friday found the helicopter’s black box after having already retrieved the cockpit voice and flight data recorder from the Bombardier jet operated by an American Airlines subsidiary.

    Officials are confident data can be fully extracted from the recorders, said NTSB member Todd Inman, adding an investigation was still being carried out.

    However, the lack of clarity over the accident’s cause did not deter Trump’s politicized commentary.

    He appeared to place blame on the military helicopter in a post on the Truth Social platform, saying it was “flying too high, by a lot.”

    This followed a news conference Thursday where the Republican pinned the blame for the crash on his Democratic predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama, claiming without evidence they had hired the wrong people due to non-discrimination initiatives known as DEI.

    Chesley Sullenberger, who famously landed a stricken passenger plane on New York’s Hudson River in 2009, told network MSNBC he was “disgusted” but “not surprised” by Trump’s rhetoric.

    Aviation experts homed in on whether the helicopter crew could see through military night-vision goggles — and whether the control tower was understaffed.

    The collision was the first major crash in the United States since 2009, and the deadliest since an American Airlines jet crash in Belle Harbor, New York in 2001 that killed all 260 aboard.

    Among those on Wednesday’s doomed airliner were several US skaters and coaches, and Russian couple Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the 1994 world pairs title.

    Two Chinese citizens and a Filipino were also among the victims.

  • The only airport in Africa with flights to all six inhabited continents

    The only airport in Africa with flights to all six inhabited continents

    Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) is Africa’s only airport with regularly scheduled nonstop passenger flights to all six inhabited continents.

    As sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest airport, it serves as a vital hub, connecting Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania.

    Special charter flights link Cape Town to Antarctica, making South Africa connected to all seven continents.

    Key International Routes

    JNB supports extensive regional connectivity, with its busiest international routes serving African destinations such as Harare, Gaborone, Lusaka, Maputo, Windhoek, and Nairobi.

    The Johannesburg-Harare route alone has up to 77 weekly flights, operated by airlines like South African Airways, Air Zimbabwe, and FlySafair.

    Long-Haul Connections

    Asia & Middle East: Johannesburg maintains direct flights to China, Hong Kong, Qatar, Singapore, and the UAE. The longest nonstop Asian route is from Shenzhen (10,678 km), operated by Air China’s Airbus A350-900. Dubai-Johannesburg is the busiest, with Emirates running up to 21 weekly flights.

    Europe: Major airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, and Air France offer nonstop flights to cities like London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris. London Heathrow is the busiest route, with up to 19 weekly

    flights.

    North & South America: Delta and United Airlines operate direct flights from Atlanta and Newark, making these among Africa’s longest routes. LATAM and South African Airways provide links to São Paulo.

    Australia/Oceania: Qantas serves Sydney with the Airbus A380, while South African Airways operates flights to Perth.

    Antarctic Connections

    Though there are no scheduled commercial flights, charter services operate from Cape Town to Antarctica, facilitating research missions and tourism.

    Johannesburg OR Tambo remains Africa’s premier aviation hub, crucial for intercontinental travel and regional connectivity.

  • Court orders hearing inpassenger’s suit against KLM

    Court orders hearing inpassenger’s suit against KLM

    A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has ordered a fresh hearing in a case by Alhaji Yekeen Idowu against Kitoye Pamela Akinwale, representing KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, over an alleged breach of contract and willful misconduct during the plaintiff’s travel from Germany to Nigeria in 2018.

    Trial judge, Justice Musa Kakaki ruled that the case would begin de novo (afresh) on April 1, 2025, following arguments by counsel regarding the continuation of cross-examination.

    At the hearing, plaintiff’s counsel, Enitan Afolabi, argued that the matter, previously part-heard by Justice Awoboro, must restart under a new judge as mandated by Section 23 of the Federal High Court Act.
    He expressed surprise that the defense counsel sought to continue from where the previous proceedings left off.

    Defense counsel, Fidelis Okeke, opposed the motion for a fresh trial, urging the court to follow its records.
    He accused the plaintiff’s legal team of causing repeated delays since 2020 and urged that the case proceed immediately to the defense stage.

    Background of case

    The lawsuit stems from an incident on July 3, 2018, when Alhaji Idowu flew on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Germany to Nigeria under reservation codes MOHSKI and V4P8K4 (KL).

    The plaintiff alleges that his agreed itinerary, from Stuttgart, Germany, to Lagos, Nigeria, via Amsterdam, was arbitrarily changed by the airline. Instead, he was rerouted through Paris, France, and Casablanca, Morocco, causing significant delays.

    According to the plaintiff, his flight from Stuttgart to Paris was delayed by eight hours, for which KLM compensated him with €600.

    However, upon reaching Paris, he was placed on an Air France flight and later abandoned in Casablanca for over 48 hours without access to proper accommodation, his family, or his business associates.

    The plaintiff further alleges that he was subjected to harassment by Moroccan immigration authorities, prevented from contacting KLM representatives, and forced to stay in a deportee waiting room, alternating between sitting on a chair and sleeping on the bare floor.

    Demands

    Alhaji Idowu is seeking total damages of N45 million, plus additional costs, for the distress and financial losses he suffered, including:

    €700 for the cost of securing an alternative flight from Casablanca to Lagos.

    N1.2 million for loss of professional time, calculated at N50,000 per hour over 24 hours.

    N45 million in general damages for negligence, willful misconduct, and financial losses.

    The plaintiff’s counsel also argued that KLM ignored multiple legal demands, including letters sent in May and June 2019, further demonstrating the airline’s alleged indifference to its contractual obligations.

    The case resumes on April 1, 2025, and the court is expected to hear witness testimonies from both sides, with each party presenting one witness. The outcome could have significant implications for airline liability and passenger rights under Nigerian aviation law.

  • U.S plane carrying 64 passengers collides with Army Black Hawk at Reagan Airport

    U.S plane carrying 64 passengers collides with Army Black Hawk at Reagan Airport

    A commercial aeroplane collided in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter as the jet was approaching a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, according to federal aviation officials.

    The accident happened as the jet, operated by regional carrier PSA Airlines on behalf of American Airlines, was attempting to land just before 9 p.m. ET.

    There was no immediate word on fatalities. But the incident could be the most significant disaster in U.S. airspace in at least 15 years.

    American Airlines said there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the jet, a Bombardier CRJ-700. “Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts,” the airline said in a statement.

    The Pentagon told NPR that the Army Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers on board and was out of Fort Belvoir, Va.

    A webcam at the nearby John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts showed a small aircraft, presumably the helicopter, colliding with the passenger jet at a low altitude, followed by a bright explosion. Radar tracking sites show the passenger jet appears to have fallen into the frigid Potomac River.

    The jet, operating as American Eagle Flight 5342, had departed from Wichita, Kan., and was attempting to land on Runway 33 at Reagan airport (DCA).

    DC Fire and EMS confirmed that a small aircraft crashed into the Potomac River near the airport, as helicopters and fireboats rushed to the scene to search for survivors. “There are multiple partner agencies coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River,” according to a news release from DC Fire

    and EMS and the Metropolitan Police Department.

    The airspace in and around DCA is complicated due to challenging approaches into the airport as well as flight restrictions above government buildings. It’s particularly busy airspace too with an influx of police and military helicopters operating in the area.

    In a statement from the White House, President Trump said, “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
    The last major commercial airplane accident in the U.S. occurred in 2009, when a Colgan Air flight crashed near Buffalo killing a total of 50 people (49 passengers and crew, and one person inside a house).

    The plane, American Airlines Flight 5342 with 60 passengers and four crew members on board, had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the airline. Three soldiers were on board the helicopter that came out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, according to a US defense official.

    All takeoffs and landings have been halted at Reagan National Airport.

  • NSIB investigates Max Air flight incident

    NSIB investigates Max Air flight incident

    Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has launched an investigation into the incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft with registration 5N-MBD, operated by Max Air.

    The incident occurred at approximately 10:48 PM Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, MAKIA.

    Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, in a statement, said: “The aircraft, flying from Lagos to Kano with 53 passengers and six crew members onboard, landed on runway 06. During the deceleration phase, while still under 60 knots and with the

    thrust reversers engaged, a loud bang was heard, followed by the aircraft veering sharply to the left.

    “The flight crew promptly regained control and safely brought the aircraft to a stop.

    All 53 passengers and crew members safely disembarked, and no injuries were reported.

    “The NSIB has deployed its GoTeam to the site of the incident. The team’s investigation will focus on identifying the root cause, including any technical, operational, or procedural lapses.

    “The NSIB remains committed to upholding the highest aviation safety standards and providing recommendations to prevent future occurrences. As the investigation progresses, further updates will be provided.”