A passenger travelling on a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi to Lagos has died after reportedly becoming unresponsive shortly before landing, with the Nigeria Police Force taking over investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night aboard a Kenya Airways flight bound for Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, turning the journey into a medical and security emergency.
According to Kenya Airways, the passenger became unresponsive at about 9:20pm, approximately 20 minutes before the aircraft was scheduled to land in Lagos.
The airline said its cabin crew immediately responded and administered first aid while following established procedures for handling medical emergencies on board.
The aircraft landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 9:41pm, where medical personnel met the flight and, after examination, confirmed that the passenger had died.
The identity of the deceased had not been made public as of the time of the report.
However, information from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) provided further details about events preceding the passenger’s death.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said he was briefed about the incident by the Kenya Airways country manager on Wednesday morning.
Achimugu said the passenger had reportedly been picked up from Madagascar after customs authorities there denied him entry into the country.
According to him, Kenya Airways, having transported the passenger into Madagascar, was expected to return him in line with the circumstances surrounding the denial of entry.
He said the passenger reportedly became restless and aggressive during the flight to Lagos, prompting the intervention of the cabin crew.
Achimugu alleged that the passenger attempted to gain access to the cockpit and later tried to open the rear door of the aircraft.
The situation reportedly escalated, leading to the passenger’s hands being restrained behind his back in an effort to prevent further disruption and protect other passengers and crew members.
“When he got into the aircraft, he became restless and aggressive inside the aircraft, wanted to enter the cockpit and later wanted to open the rear door, but was later tied down,” Achimugu said.
He added that the restraint was intended to prevent the passenger from causing further disruption during the flight.
However, by the time the aircraft arrived in Lagos, the passenger was reportedly unresponsive and was subsequently declared dead.
“But when he got to Nigeria, he was declared dead on arrival. I don’t want to preempt the police investigation, but they have taken it over for now,” Achimugu said.
The NCAA official stressed that the circumstances surrounding the death should be established through the ongoing investigation rather than speculation.
The police are expected to examine the events before and during the flight, including the passenger’s reported behaviour, the circumstances surrounding his restraint and the medical emergency shortly before landing.
Investigators may also obtain statements from members of the flight crew and passengers who witnessed the incident to establish a clear timeline.
Achimugu further disclosed that the deceased passenger’s family could request an autopsy as the investigation progresses. The examination could help determine the cause of death and establish whether an underlying medical condition or another factor contributed to it.
Meanwhile, Kenya Airways expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and said it was cooperating with relevant authorities.
“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused,” the airline said.
The incident has drawn attention to the challenges airlines and aviation authorities face when dealing with passengers who become medically distressed or disruptive during international flights.
For now, the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s death remain under investigation as the police work to establish what happened from the time he boarded the aircraft until his death was confirmed after landing in Lagos.