Over 200 KLM passengers stranded for 48hrs at Lagos airport
Lagos airport.
About 250
passengers of KLM Airlines headed to Europe have been stranded for
almost 48 hours, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA)
Lagos since Thursday night.
The reason for the flight delay is said to be a technical fault developed by the airline’s aircraft on Thursday night.
A few passengers were bitter they won’t meet up with their
appointments and further complained that management checked them into an
hotel in Amuwo-Odofin area and then ceased communication with them.
A passenger identified as Chris told The Nation that they
had already boarded before the airline’s crew informed them that they
would not be departing Lagos, as scheduled due to a technical fault
developed by the aircraft.
Passengers disembarked and were taken to a hotel around 11:00pm.
Though Chris noted the technical fault was in line with international
best practices, he however lamented that management is yet to speak
with them on the status of their scheduled flight since Thursday.
According to him, “Apart from checking us into the hotel, none of us
was given ordinary refreshments as recommended by the International
Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO). Such maltreatment would not have
happened in Europe and other countries.”
“It is sad that these people are treating us this way in our own
country. We were supposed to have travelled since Thursday and up till
now, there is no information about our departure. There ought to be a
helpdesk for passengers through which we could communicate with the
airline’s officials but they did not provide that.
“To make matters worse, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that
is even supposed to protect us is not doing anything about our plights.
We are just like displaced people here. People are angry and hungry here
because there is no provision for dinner for us as I am talking to you
now. They can’t do this in Europe or elsewhere because they would pay
heavy compensation. It is unfortunate that they come here and get away
with so many atrocities without any protection for the flying public the
relevant government bodies. They appear not to understand that it is
not all of us that are going to Amsterdam. A number of us are going to
the United States of America and other destinations in Europe.”
Spokesman for NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, has however promised to
contact the Customer Protection Directorate of the agency for more
information.
Source: TODAY
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