A suspected stowaway was on Sunday morning arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The suspect, a middle-aged man, was reportedly found in one of the aircraft belonging to United Nigeria Airlines which was parked at the MMA domestic terminal two.
He looked “unkempt and unconscious,” the airline said in a statement confirming the incident, adding that he was discovered during the pre-flight inspection this morning.
Head, Corporate Communications of the airline, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu in the statement said the suspect had been handed over to the security agencies, saying the aviation security (AVSEC) personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and those of Bi-Courtney were on the ground.
He added that the aircraft last operated Abuja-Lagos at 7.30pm on September 3, 2022 and was securely parked at the apron following post flight inspection.
The statement added, “FAAN, AVSEC and Bicourtney security services are on the ground and investigation has opened into this security breach at MMA2.
“The affected aircraft is being screened and prepared for service in accordance with United Nigeria Airlines strict security and operating standards.
“Meanwhile, the development will result in rescheduling of some flights to accommodate the investigations.
“We regret the delay this incident will cause our esteemed customers whose scheduled flight will be affected. United Nigeria Airlines remains absolutely committed to your safety at all times.”
Daily Trust reports that the incident of stowaway is not new in Nigeria’s aviation industry even as there have been security breaches in the past.
In 2019, a stowaway found his way into a Lagos-Amsterdam flight and his dead body was recovered underneath a KLM flight that landed in Amsterdam.
