[size=14pt]Nigerian stowaway found dead in wheel-well of Lagos-Johannesburg Arik Air aircraft, after return flight to Lagos[/size]
By Chinedu Eze, 09.20.2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Security chiefs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos are brainstorming on how a young Nigerian man was discovered dead yesterday in the wheel-well, the under-carriage compartment, of Arik Air aircraft that flew to Johannesburg on Saturday and returned yesterday to Lagos.



http://odili.net/news/source/2010/sep/21/225.html

The dead body was found when the A330 aircraft landed in Lagos and at the time of filing this story, no one could explain how the deceased gained access to the airside of the airport and into the aircraft wheel-well.

There are speculations that the deceased was helped by some of the security officials to access the aircraft when it was parked yet to board passengers and hid there until it took off to South Africa.

Pilots and aeronautical engineers familiar with the compartment said it is roomy enough to contain a human being, but it is highly unlikely that any one who hid there would come out alive after a flight that took several hours due to lack of oxygen.

Inside source told THISDAY that the body was not discovered in Johannesburg because the airline usually does a quick turnaround back to Lagos the following day.

The source also explained why the deceased inevitably died, saying "As we climb high, the temperature becomes low, getting below freezing level when the aircraft is cruising between 35,000 to 40, 000 feet. The guy probably died due to lack of oxygen."

An operator who spoke to THISDAY expressed shock at the incident and said, "How can this happen after we have gained Category 1 safety status from the United States".

These security officials at the airports will make us lose this rating which is a very big advantage and a boost to aviation development in this country."

THISDAY spoke to senior Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) official concerned with security who said that all the top security officials at the airport were holding meetings to find out how the incident happened.

In a telephone interview, the official told THISDAY that it could not be explained how the deceased accessed the airside of the airport,adding that security was yet to identify the dead body but investigation was on to know who the deceased was.On the speculation that the late Nigerian was aided by aviation security officials from FAAN, the source said, "You cannot say that for now. We don't know the people that might be responsible. It is not only aviation security officials that operate at the airport. We have Customs, Immigration, NDLEA and others, so it is too early to point accusing finger on anybody."

Over the years there have been allegations that Aviation Securityofficials help people to stowaway through this and other methods outof the country.It was also alleged that the security officials aide drug traffickersto the airside, using the runway inspection and wild-life vans.The allegation was confirmed in 2006 when cameras picked securityofficials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,helping drug trafficker to access the airside and to the foot of theaircraft designated to him and other passengers out of the country.Those involved were severely punished by the then Federal Government.

This is a second incident involving a Nigerian trying to get out of the country by airplane and dying.

Naija must be bad o!

What a way to die.

A stupid way indeed.

Ignorance is not bliss - it is a disaster waiting to happen!

Sad, very sad!

MaziUche0:

This is a second incident involving a Nigerian trying to get out of the country by airplane and dying.
Naija must be bad o!

MaziUche0:

This is a second incident involving a Nigerian trying to get out of the country by airplane and dying.

Naija must be bad o!

Who told you Nigeria is bad? All this guy's are not ready to work they are just looking for easy ways of making life better for them self without them knowing what will be fall them in the other side of the country.

Someone please help me shout out to Nigerians that south Africa is not a land of milk and Honey. Alot of Nigerians living in nigeria live better lives than south africans and even nigerian living here. I have been living in south africa for four years now and i know the difference. why would you commit suicide over traveling abroad. this is the second time someone die trying to hide in a plane. the first was a guy on a flight to US. this is sad

Hey, ignorance is a diesease of d mind! How on earth would our people keep wallowing in ignorance? Akwei damua!

How stupid can people be

He achieved his life ambition,he got to South Africa via an airplane,the only snag is that it turned out to be a "death ambition" also

Lazy,non-self-believing ignoramus

Most Nigerians claim to be educated but in fact are nt . I am sure 90% of our aviation workers and passengers dnt even know that aircraft cabins are pressurised to create an suitable environ where humans can survive low pressure, little oxygen  and hypothermia associated with high altitudes . Thats the only reason airport workers will aid someone to what the dead lad did

This is the second guy to die. God knows how many of them made it across alive. I'm sure there is a cartel behind this.

this coincidence sucks.

This other incidence happened to an American Delta line plane.

The similarity of the story line makes it totally unreal, coincidences like this don't happen within a year of each other.


there is more to this story than we know, yet.

``United States carrier, Delta Airlines, on Thursday said it was still cooperating with the Federal Governemnt to determine how a Nigerian, Okechukwu Okeke, found his way into the nosewheel compartment of one of its Boeing 777 aircraft parked on the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos about two months ago.

The airlines’ Commercial Manager, Mr. Bobby Bryan, who said this at a press conference in Lagos announcing the commencement of next week’s non-stop flight between Abuja and New York, stated that the matter was in the hands of Nigerian investigators.

Okeke, in a desperate move to travel to the United States, was allegedly assisted by airport workers to gain access to where the aircraft was parked on the tarmac and hid himself inside its nosewheel compartment.

But he was found dead inside the compartment when the aircraft landed in the US a few days later.

“The matter is currently in the hands of Nigerian authorities. they are investigating the matter and Delta is cooperating with them,” Bryan said.

He also said that the commercial carrier had not cancelled the codeshare agreement it signed with Virgin Nigeria Airways last year, despite the change in the latter’s management. However, he described the agreement as “pending.”

Based on the agreement, Virgin Nigeria is expected to feed Delta with passengers from the West Coast and other parts of Africa and vice-versa.

Bryan explained that Delta would continue to develop its service offerings between Nigeria and the US.

He said he was delighted to announce that this summer, Delta would operate a seasonal nonstop service between Abuja and New York.

According to him, “This will be the first nonstop service between Nigeria’s capital city and the United States. The seasonal nonstop service will be effective from June 3, 2010 and will be operated using a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.”

punch newspaper

There's a myth that must be circulating about this mode of transportation to foreign destinations
as feasible and it can only be achieved through the connivance of airport staff and securityagents.
A stowaway in the wheel well cannot survive more than 20 minutes after take off but its painless.
Initial elation, drowsiness, sleep, death.

I really dont think Naija is as bad as many people make it to be in their "mind". The guy's death is just unfortunate, just because he cant see beyond his nose.

Any body saying Nigeria is not bad, hasn't lived in the country for 1 year. . Its funny how people spew utter crap on Nairaland without thinking. . . . .Nigeria is not bad?? Damn!

bishoptboy:

Someone please help me [b]shout[\b] out to Nigerians that south Africa is not a land of milk and Honey. Alot of Nigerians living in nigeria live better lives than south africans and even nigerian living here. I have been living in south africa for four years now and i know the difference. why would you commit suicide over traveling abroad. this is the second time someone die trying to hide in a plane. the first was a guy on a flight to US. this is sad

you no Get mouth?

sandee575:

There's a myth that must be circulating about this mode of transportation to foreign destinations
as feasible and it can only be achieved through the connivance of airport staff and securityagents.
A stowaway in the wheel well cannot survive more than 20 minutes after take off but its painless.
Initial elation, drowsiness, sleep, death.

hmmmmm mr mythical oya explain na!
You are totally deaf and dumb

this one na CON AIR PART 2,

Ever heard of people paying to die?
This was a classic example.
I can bet the guy must have been fleeced of a lot of money.
In a country such as ours, things like this will continue to happen due to the triad of poverty, ignorance and greed.
So sad.

I wonder wat is in S/A that is worth dieing for hum if only these people know how great naija is they will neva tink of this act so sad

Oh my God, to most Nigerians, Anyway na Way o!

Nigerians are willing to take a risk in as much as they jet out of this hell hole we live in.
It goes a long way to tell the world to ban all Nigerians Political Office holders from entering their countries for 10years so that they can suffer with us as soon as they leave office.

no comment!

[b][b] i dont blame the dead dude, d guy wanted to run from this Danger zone call naija to UK or States without knowing that the flight was actually going to heaven. eh yah wat a pity! :- :-

NO COMMENT !!!

*reads other people's comment and bounce's out*

Flights coming in from abroad are filled with white people,there is something they see in our great country,there are opportunities everywhere in Nigeria to make money legally,i wonder why this young man would commit suicide trying to look for what we have in abundance "GREENER PASTURES"

rest in peace

How did he get to the air-side?

This is one too many an occurrence

The Chief Security Officer should be held responsible and if possible, fired!

Until the security operatives are held accountable, despicable incidents like this would continue,

Dumb f**k, of all places it's the wheel well of an aircraft. This serves as a lesson to people who are really desperate and would do anything.

idupaul:

Most Nigerians claim to be educated but in fact are nt . I am sure 90% of our aviation workers and passengers dnt even know that aircraft cabins are pressurised to create an suitable environ where humans can survive low pressure, little oxygen  and hypothermia associated with high altitudes . Thats the only reason airport workers will aid someone to what the dead lad did

What aviation folks are you talking about? From ramp agents to line mechanics, etc who are the main point to the aircraft knows that airplanes are pressurized after a certain level. Maybe passengers don't know but aviation workers, and for 90%, that's a no no. Perhaps the guy was told, but u know desperadoes, he did not care even after they told him so he embarked on his death journey.