PLANE PANIC

Panic Aboard Flight After Air Force Marshal Dies Mid-Flight

A pregnant woman reportedly had medical issues after the pilot announced an emergency landing.

A retired air force marshal died mid-flight en route to Nigeria from the U.K., forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. The victim, Osita Obierika, said to be in his 80s, was returning home on the British Airways flight after cancer treatment in the U.K., according to a Nigerian Outlet. The former Air Vice Marshal of the Nigerian Air Force fell ill and died two and a half hours into the trip, which departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 11 p.m. on Sunday and scheduled to land by 5 a.m. on Monday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. The pilot called in a medical emergency and diverted the plane to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, which reportedly caused passengers to panic and a pregnant woman to have a medical emergency. Her current condition is unclear. The airline arranged another aircraft to take the passengers to their final destination in Nigeria; however, that flight was delayed by 50 minutes. British Airways reportedly said in a statement to passengers that they should reach out to its “Live Chat Feature” for further assistance.