Another BA, Nigerian Passengers Fight Averted
By Lucky Onoriode George [Heathrow Airport]
Fights between British Airways and Nigerian passengers were averted recently at the prestigious Heathrow Airport in London. The fights which would have resulted as a Nigerian middle aged man and a woman who claimed to be a student in the United Kingdom were being deported in an inhuman manner on November 26 and December 2, 2008 respectively.
The December incident was witnessed by this reporter on Abuja bound night flight BA 083 that British Airways crew also got involved by asking all passengers to return to their seats which failed to sway the aggrieved Nigerian passengers with this threatening to video the whole scene before the British officers went cold and sue for understanding and peace that it was not their intent to handle the lady the way she was being handled.
Despite their explanation, the Nigerian journalist and another Nigerian female passenger who dare challenge the actions of the officers insisted that their action was illegal and that the woman does have the right to return home voluntarily, except if she has committed a serious crime.
The argument went on and the Nigerian passengers argument prevailed that deporting a Nigerian in same plane full other genuine passengers was insulting and embarrassing to our national pride even when we all knew as Nigerians that the moment we step out of the country, we are on our own.
After an hour’s delay or so, the flight crew reached a verdict that the British Police Officers and the Nigerian being deported should disembarked from the plane to relief of many Nigerians, including those whispering while the case lasted.
In the same plane were two recognizable former Nigerian ambassadors and a serving special adviser to President Musa Yar ‘Adua. It would be recalled that a group called Respect Nigerians Coalition (RNC), a coalition of organizations and person campaigned against British Airways’ in what it then referred to as discriminatory and indecorous treatment of its Nigerian customers.
Under similar circumstances, on 27th March this year, British Airways officials and the British Police subjected one Mr Ayodeji Omotade to a degrading treatment and went further to eject the other 135 passengers (overwhelmingly Nigerians) from BA075 flight bound for Lagos, Nigeria from London Heathrow Airport.
On, April 15, the group made five specific demands on British Airways over this issue and asked that they address these before April 30 that British Airways must tender a clear and well-worded apology to all passengers affected by that discriminatory and intimidatory conduct aboard flight.
BA075 on 27th of March 2008 in a Nigerian national newspaper; tender a clear and well-worded written apology and appropriate compensation to Mr Ayodeji Omotade for financial and emotional losses suffered as a result of the conduct of British Airways and its agents on the days; withdraw all adverse statements made to the police about Mr. Ayodeji Omotade over this incident; lift the ban imposed on Mr Ayodeji Omotade, even as he would still retain his right to decide whether or not to fly British Airways in the future, and issue an undertaking that British Airways shall improve its customer care culture and desist from such practices that give the impression that the airline is arrogant, uncaring and discriminatory.
Failure of which the group promised to call on all Nigerians worldwide to boycott British Airways goods and services as from Thursday, 15th May 2008 before it was eventually resolved.
Mr. Ayodeji’s crime then was his boldness to intervene in the way the British Police handled a Nigerian man being deported in the same plane with about 135 Nigerian passengers.