Virgin Atlantic on Saturday de-planed hundreds of Nigerians at Heathrow airport, leaving them forlorn after the pilot complained the aircraft had technical issues.
The passengers who boarded the 10.40 pm flight in London, bound for Lagos were asked to disembark at 2.30 am after the flight was cancelled at 2. am.
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, a popular expert on African agriculture and nutrition who was also a passenger on the flight took to her Instagram account to narrate her experience.
“We boarded the 10.40 pm flight in London bound for Lagos on Saturday evening. The pilot mentioned that there was a technical issue that they were trying to resolve. At 2a.m, the flight was cancelled. At 2.30 am, we were de-planed and were informed that all the hotels around Heathrow were full and we will have to sort ourselves out.
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“A plane load of Nigerians were told to find space in the airport to sleep. We were even encouraged to take bedding off the plane. The lounges were closed. Both economy and Business class passengers received the same terrible treatment. The plane was filled with babies and the elderly; many in wheelchairs. There was no Virgin staff in sight. By morning, the Virgin staff started showing up and rebooking was a nightmare,” Nwuneli stated.
She disclosed that she finally made it home through another carrier without her luggage and Virgin refused to transfer the luggage to the next carrier.
Commenting on behalf of the airline Ebahi Ajayi, marketing executive, Virgin Atlantic expressed the company’s apology.
Àjàyí said that all affected customers have been rebooked onto a direct service departing London Heathrow on Tuesday evening.
“We apologise profusely to our customers that were due to travel on Saturday night’s (25th June) VS411 to Lagos. The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and there was a hydraulic fault identified onboard. All customers have been rebooked onto a direct service departing London Heathrow later this evening to complete their journey,” the marketing executive wrote in response to BusinessDay’s email inquiring about the incident.
“We are unfortunately unable to provide accommodation to customers in the meantime, as London Heathrow hotels have very limited availability amidst the weekend peak and scheduled rail strikes. We would like to apologise to customers for the delay and any inconvenience caused.
Several Nigerians have also taken to their Instagram handles condemning the treatment by Virgin Atlantic on the Nigerian passengers.
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