Panic: Presidential movement keeps airline in the air for 3 hours
Written by Kenneth Ehigiator
Saturday, January 17, 2009


Panic, anxiety trailed the aviation sector yesterday as[b] Bellview’s Abuja-bound plane which took off at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, did not get to its destination until after almost three hours as a result of presidential movement.

[/b]





The confusion was heightened by the fact that three years ago, on October 22, 2005, an airliner of the same airline did not get to its Abuja destination at the estimated time of arrival, and was later found to have crashed at Lisa in Ogun State.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the plane took off in Lagos at about noon and was expected to arrive Abuja latest 1:00pm, but couldn’t land until close to 3:00pm.

Presidential movement was said to have kept the plane in the air for upward of three hours, prompting panic and frustration among passengers.

The pilot, it was learnt, was forced to bring the aircraft down to avoid running out of fuel which had almost been exhausted.

It was learnt that because of the number of the length of time the aircraft spent in the air, some passengers aboard fainted and were later revived after the plane had touched down.

Families of some of the passengers on board the plane reportedly stormed the Lagos airport to ascertain the true state of affairs, having waited to hear from their loved ones on arrival in Abuja with no success.

A source told Saturday Vanguard some top officials in the sector ran confusingly to ascertain what had gone wrong with the airplane until they heard from air traffic controllers that it had been held up in the skies by VIP movement.

A similar situation had about three years ago forced the pilot of a Cessna Citation trainer plane to land on the expressway at Ewekoro, Ogun State, having been prevented from landing at the Lagos airport due to presidential movement.

The pilot was actually running out of fuel and reasoned that fuel he had left could not take the aircraft to Ibadan to land.

This present incident has again brought to the fore issues relating to VIP movement, especially as it violates known aviation laws which forbid such movements from impeding smooth aircraft movement in the airspace for safety reasons.

Besides national laws, regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) also forbid VIP movements from interfering with safe commercial airline operations.

It will be recalled how a Cessna citation trainer aircraft was forced to land in Ewekoro area of Ogun State over a year ago due to unnecessary delay based on presidential movement.

Although the spokesman of the airline, Mr. Habib Mohammed, could not be reached for confirmation, as calls pulled through his phone were unanswered, a source close to the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident.


http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jan/17/311.html

Ridiculous if you ask me. I think the passengers should sue the FG.

wonder shall never end.

This na onfusion break bones.

One head is > over 150 passengers!. Ridiculous.

fani kayode last year told a panel of inquiry that the countless air misharps in nigeria had to do with the cultists in nigeria.
the other abuja bound plane lost one of the engines now a local flight held for three hours. funy stories in nigeria, flyers shld be careful this time maybe they need blood somewhere.
God will save us all in Jesus name.

I thought it was Borishade?

earTHMama:

I thought it was Borishade?

NO, it was Fa**y Kayode. I saw the live interview in London and I had to tap myself twice as I thought I was dreaming. He actually said "it was the occultist's to be blamed cos he believed in thingd like that".

_{God will save us all in Jesus  name}[color=#006600][/color]

when?

ode remo:

_{God will save us all in Jesus name}[color=#006600][/color]

when?

Never!!!

NO, it was Fa**y Kayode. I saw the live interview in London and I had to tap myself twice as I thought I was dreaming. He actually said "it was the occultist's to be blamed cos he believed in thingd like that".

He may be right in a way. Have you heard of any other plane crash lately since the occultists were arrested by EFCC?. Unless some crazy Nigerians are planning to fly Air Aloy.Emeka.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-220178.0.html

WTF

yeah right

Occultist,funny,occultism is about things like the presidential movement shit,gross mismanagement and abuse of privates headed power,What on earth could they have held a commercial plane in the air for 3 hours for?even if it was going to crash land at aso rock.And why the particular plane?

my gawd! wetin person no go see for this country called naija

[b],What on earth could they have held a commercial plane in the air for 3 hours for?[/b]even if it was going to crash land at aso rock.And why the particular plane?

Because in Nigeria, president's or governors private plane flies with siren like they do when they use cars to scare away birds, commercial planes and air borne armed robbers/assassins especially whenever they are flying over almajiri air space . If you don't stay 10000 feet away from the plane when you hear the siren, paratroopers will use their cain to crash your plane.

earTHMama:

Because in Nigeria, president's or governors private plane flies with siren like they do when they use cars to scare away birds, commercial planes and air borne armed robbers/assassins especially whenever they are flying over almajiri air space . If you don't stay 10000 feet away from the plane when you hear the siren, paratroopers will use their cain to crash your plane.

o serious

Misleading title. I thought Yar'Adua had manifested powers like Sylar in Heroes and could suspend planes in mid-air with telekinesis.


Seriously though, that sucks.

This country

And he calls himself servant leader

You see what I mean?? the degree of abuse of power by the people who should know better? How dare Yaradua risk hundreds of lives on air for 3 hours just for egotism and grandiosity. How dare him and his henchmen/entourage even think of this?? What is his office trying to tell the world? That his daily business is more important than hundreds of Nigerian lives?

Well, I should not blame them because they have all got it good down there. No African government is under any pressure to deliver the goods you know! That's why they do what they like. What do you expect then? When you are not accountable for any thing wouldn't you rule the roast Don't worry their day shall come like those before them!!!

Here am being made to believe that Nigerian lives are worth nothing and should not be bothered about. When a Head of State whose duty it is to proctect Nigerians display this kind of cowardness and irresponsibility as regards to lives I wonder the kind of message other countries of the world are picking up from him about how to treat our people. I don't blame him and his groupie at all but our so called Nigerian men who in circumstances like this can only talk, talk, talk and talk (all cowards) and when it comes to women issues that's where you see their power and rage e.g. the divorcee rally scheduled on the 29th January 2009 in Northern Nigerian, guess who is up in arms trying to quash it The Nigerian males. They are all nothing but women wrappers when they can not effect any change in our country they should go and die than presenting this image of: I am a man, I am a man when they should all challenge the government and change our country of the best and for the benefit of their children. If you can not effect a change for our beloved country, get out of the way - Nigerian women would do it and you would see. Remember Queen Shebba, Queen Amina - these are strong Nubian women who made a difference in history and we their decendants will carry the mantle.

Now, anybody doubting that there's nothing wrong with Nigeria ought to tell me where the movement of the president, and security details of the speaker could interfer with commercial aviation safety protocols----- almost on a daily basis.

Now, anybody doubting that there's nothing wrong with Nigeria ought to tell me where the movement of the president, and security details of the speaker could interfer with commercial aviation safety protocols----- almost on a daily basis.

No, it was just this once. Stop telling people it happens on daily basis.

Only in that bleeped up Nigeria. For a nonentity under the title of president (or his advisers or whoever in charge), to dare risk and endanger the lives of the very citizens whom he is supposed to be governing and who had not voted him into the apex office, is criminal to say the least.

^{(But Na wah for reporting o. How can a plane which (according to the report) was supposed to land at about 1pm but instead landed around 3PM, have been suspended in the air for 3 hours? Sensationalism is always the order of the day with these people ).}

earTHMama:

No, it was just this once. Stop telling people it happens on daily basis.

It may not be on a daily basis, but it was definitely NOT once. The report clearly stated that a plane was FORCED to land on the expressway for Gawd's sake cos of this same thing. What a friggin joke and there is no strong public outrage and backlash over this crap. Even if it been just once, that would have been one time TOO MANY.

I don't see the big deal, the plane could have diverted to Jos, Kaduna, or Aviation School in Zaria. All these locations are  less than 200 miles away. It's protocol when a President is landing or taking off from an airport all air traffic is suspended around the airport for security reasons.

Here in the states the Presidential aircraft try as much as possible from landing in commercial airports due to just that same reason. Instead Air Force One or Marine one would land or take off from the closest military Airfield . And if one is not around Air force one lands in a commercial Airport and air traffic around the airport would be suspended till the President leaves the area.

I maybe wrong, but I don't think there is a big enough run way in any Military airfield around Abuja so the president is limited to just the commercial airport. Security of the President should always come first.

I don't see the big deal, the plane could have diverted to Jos, Kaduna, or Aviation School in Zaria. All these locations are less than 200 miles away. It's protocol when a President is landing or taking off from an airport all air traffic is suspended around the airport for security reasons.

Here in the states the Presidential aircraft affords landing in commercial airports due to just that same reason. Instead Air Force One or Marine one would land or take off from the closest military Airfield . And if one is not around Air force one lands in a commercial Airport and air traffic around the airport would be suspended till the President leaves the area.

I maybe wrong, but I don't think there is a big enough run way in any Military airfield around Abuja so the president is limited to just the commercial airport. Security of the President should always come first.

So it took him 3 hrs to land? Is the presidential plane made by Yaradua aero manufacturing co else why the slow landing?

SHENANIGAN:

I don't see the big deal, the plane could have diverted to Jos, Kaduna, or Aviation School in Zaria. All these locations are less than 200 miles away. It's protocol when a President is landing or taking off from an airport all air traffic is suspended around the airport for security reasons.

Here in the states the Presidential aircraft try as much as possible from landing in commercial airports due to just that same reason. Instead Air Force One or Marine one would land or take off from the closest military Airfield . And if one is not around Air force one lands in a commercial Airport and air traffic around the airport would be suspended till the President leaves the area.

I maybe wrong, but I don't think there is a big enough run way in any Military airfield around Abuja so the president is limited to just the commercial airport. Security of the President should always come first.

you are right. during the bill clinton years as president of the us he held up air traffic for more than one hour because he needed a quick haircut on air force one before making a trip. it made headlines then though. i see no reason why the president could not be given priority over other air travellers. for christ's sake he is president!

earTHMama:

No, it was just this once. Stop telling people it happens on daily basis.

That's what is exactly wrong with naija people and naija for that matter. Do you know how many of these incidents go unreported everyday? Do you know how many commercial flights have been delayed because some "VIP" is taking his sweet time boarding the aircraft. This poor behaviour has become part of our tolerable culture because of people like you.

SHENANIGAN:

I don't see the big deal, the plane could have diverted to Jos, Kaduna, or Aviation School in Zaria. All these locations are less than 200 miles away. It's protocol when a President is landing or taking off from an airport all air traffic is suspended around the airport for security reasons.

Here in the states the Presidential aircraft try as much as possible from landing in commercial airports due to just that same reason. Instead Air Force One or Marine one would land or take off from the closest military Airfield . And if one is not around Air force one lands in a commercial Airport and air traffic around the airport would be suspended till the President leaves the area.

I maybe wrong, but I don't think there is a big enough run way in any Military airfield around Abuja so the president is limited to just the commercial airport. Security of the President should always come first.

The security of the president does NOT come before the safety of the citizens. There is a reason why there are flight plans and protocols. These things are factored into the take-off and landing schedule. There was no excuse.

Sapphic:

The security of the president does NOT come before the safety of the citizens. There is a reason why there are flight plans and protocols. These things are factored into the take-off and landing schedule. There was no excuse.

Try saying that around some over worked CIA or NSA agents and your butt will be dead before you can reach the ground.

SHENANIGAN:


Try saying that around some over worked CIA or NSA agents and your butt will be dead before you can reach the ground.

Your example with CIA/NSA/Airforce 1, etc is self serving. No American president would be like to be held responsible for jeopardiazing a commercial aircraft in air. NEPA/PHC, telephones don't work in Nigeria, but you expect airtraffic control to work as if in the US.
Nobody questions the the president is the #1 citizen, but why jeopardize lives(that may include those of future presidents) just because of poorly cordinated travel schedules.

For me, there would be no greater act of[b] Patriotism [/b] I could perform than to die in a plane crash which resulted from my aircraft running out of fuel after being delayed indefinitely in a holding pattern so as to make way for the arrival of Nigeria's Airforce One and its terminally sick occupant.

As soon as the captain of my plane announced that we are out of fuel and heading down for a certain appointment with a fiery death, I would commence to sing the Nigerian national anthem loudly enough to drown out the futile screamed prayers of all those seated around me, confident in the knowledge that El Presidente would declare all of us aboard the ill-fated plane as heroes whose bereaved families might be eligible for 200 naira compensation after a few decades of air-crash investigations and paperwork in Abuja.