Retired Air Vice Marshal Dies Aboard London–Abuja Flight, Plane Diverted to Barcelona

A British Airways flight from London to Abuja was forced to divert to Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday after a retired Air Vice Marshal from Anambra State (name withheld) died midair.

The aircraft, which departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 11:00 p.m. on October 5, was scheduled to land at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 5:00 a.m. Monday before the emergency diversion.

According to reports, the incident caused panic among passengers, leading to a second medical emergency involving a pregnant woman whose condition remained unclear at press time.

In a message to passengers, British Airways expressed condolences and apologised for the disruption caused by the unscheduled stop.

“Passengers are advised to expect an email with more information and can reach out to the airline’s Live Chat feature for support. British Airways acknowledges the inconvenience and thanks passengers for their patience and understanding,” the airline stated.

The airline confirmed that a replacement aircraft was arranged to complete the journey to Abuja. Initially scheduled to depart Barcelona at 2:00 p.m. local time, the flight’s departure was later shifted to 2:50 p.m., with arrival expected around 5:45 p.m. Nigerian time.

British Airways reiterated its apology for the disruption and assured passengers of continued assistance and smooth onward travel arrangements.

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