NCAA rescues stranded Saudia Airlines passengers in Abuja

 

NCAA rescues stranded Saudia Airlines passengers in Abuja

....Facilitates their movement to Kano 

The  Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has facilitated the rescue of over 400 passengers stranded since weekend at Abuja  Airport following the inability of  a Saudia Airlines aircraft ferrying them land in Kano Airport  because of  poor weather conditions.

The pilot of the aircraft initiated a diversion to Abuja  Airport , following what industry sources described as a force majeure - circumstances beyond the airline's control. 

While the crew waited in Abuja Airport for the weather to improve,  with a view to continuing to Kano, their allowed flying hours had elapsed requiring that  they observe the globally prescribed rest hours  before another set of pilots take command of the aircraft.

According to prescribed standards set by the global civil aviation regulator : International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), pilots' hours are strictly regulated to prevent fatigue, with limits on flight time -the time in the air - duty time as well as total work hours.

ICAO member countries , including Nigeria comply with this regulation for pilots operating into its airspace.

In the ensuing hours, the anxious passengers were kept inside the aircraft without sufficient clarifications on what to expect.

Industry sources hinted that as anxiety intensified, the passengers who had missed opportunities for their planned itinerary lodged complaints with officials of the NCAA's Department of Consumer Protection, which impressed it on the airline to arrange accommodation for the passengers pending when it resolves their evacuation to their final destination.

Worried over the lingering crisis, sources hinted that the NCAA made arrangements with some local carriers to fly the stranded passengers in batches to Kano this morning.

The passengers left Jeddah in Saudi Arabia since Saturday.

Many of the affected passengers expressed disapproval over the shoddy handling of the matter by Saudia Airlines.

Sources hinted that the sloppy handling of the matter is attributable to lack of operational base for the airline in Abuja.

Confirming the development, spokesperson of the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu said the matter is been resolved.

He noted that following the regulator's  intervention, Saudia Airlines had to ensure that the passengers were catered for including provision of  hotel accommodation as well as  facilitating the airlift of the affected passengers to their final destination Kano with  arrangement with some local carriers.

Achimugu also disclosed that the NCAA's stepping into the matter was to avoid any diplomatic row between Nigeria and Saudi Arabian Authorities, as he confirmed that the Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Nigeria is abreast of the matter with a view to finding solution to the problem.

Narrating their ordeal,  some of the passengers expressed their disappointment over the airline's poor handling of the crisis, as they were kept in the aircraft for over four hours,when it landed in Abuja. 

The passengers praised the NCAA for ameliorating the situation. 

They stated that they had expected Saudia Airlines make proper arrangements to convey them to their final destination without subjecting them to the harrowing experience.

One of the  passengers lamented  : "It took the intervention of the NCAA to ensure we were taken  to the hotel on Saturday after being kept in the aircraft for hours after landing in Abuja."