6:30am: Left a friend’s house for the airport
6:32am: Ran into my first experience of Accra traffic. I could swear half the people on the road were Nigerians (check out the driving)
7:15am: Arrived at the airport and collected my boarding pass and proceeded to clear immigration
7:23am: A boarding call for Accra to Lagos on Aero Contractor flight
7:45am: Flight fully boarded and waiting for take off (7:55am departure time)
7:55am: Engaged flight attendant on why take off has not been announced and was told they were waiting for some documentation.
8:05am: Pilot announces all passengers to disembark due to a flat tire.
8:35am: We are told a replacement tire has been requested from Lag and will be accompanied by two engineers on Air Nigeria flight to arrive 10am. When we asked why they couldn’t engage a local KLM engineers, we were told it is Aero Airline’s policy not to use any other engineers but Aero’s.
11am: Aero Station Manager informs that Air Nigeria flight was delayed in Lagos due to Aviation Fuel issues.
12:15pm: Air Nigeria flight arrives Accra with two spare tires and two engineers
2:55pm: A boarding call for Accra – Lagos on Aero Contractor flight
3:20pm: Flight taxis for takes off (I could hear the combined sound of churning tummies)
5:02pm: Flight arrives Lagos
5:15pm: Booked a new 7pm flight on Aero to Abuja since I missed my connecting flight earlier in the day.
7:00pm: Announcement of 50mins delay on Abuja flight
7:50pm: Mute***Sleeping***gazing**reading**no further announcement
8:38pm: A boarding call for Lagos – Abuja on Aero Contractor
9:00pm: Take off.
10:08pm: Landed in Abuja. Harold Demuren, DG of NCAA was inspecting things on the tarmac as we disembarked
10:18pm: Boarded a taxi home
10:45pm: Arrived at home and NO ELECTRICITY…LOL…..WHAT A LIFE!…. 😦
But I am grateful to God for journey mercies 😀
ADDENDUM!!!
After we had returned to the boarding gate, and endured a false call for boarding about 30 mins later, I decided to take a walk closer to the glass partition separating boarding gates 3 and 4. I was struck by who I saw on the the other side (Gate 3). My friend Mohammed Mijindadi, was at Gate 3 waiting to board the delayed Arik flight from Accra to Monrovia. Equally amazed to see me so far away from Abuja, where we both live, we made our way to meet at the waiting area and exchanged sober pleasantries. Sober because he had just lost nine 9 family members in the Dana Airline crash a fortnight ago; his sister and her husband, their four kids, his mum, and two cousins. I looked at him intensely, he stared back and just smiled. I was speechless and we just hugged and let the heart talk.
Why would I see Mohammed at a time as this, when we just escaped being carried in a similar vehicle going somewhere to crash. I could read all kinds of meaning into this spooky encounter, but I hold my peace and determine that I will not be silent about the state of transportation in Nigeria. Nigerians simply have to become empowered citizens. It was a passenger who noticed the flat tire and complained, if not we would have been consigned to a highly risky flight. we cannot afford to be negligent any more or having an anything-goes attitude. We must ensure that vehicles we board, whether it is air, land, water, or supernatural transport :P, we must ask questions if we notice anything or feel uncomfortable with the state of the vehicle.
By the time we were boarding the flight again, everyone had become airline inspectors, looking to be sure that the tires were properly screwed in :D. I tell you I sat in a plane full of empowered Nigerians. Everyone seemingly had a clear resolve to become more sensitive to issues of airline safety.
The Downside? – Watsed a whole day and missed two important meetings and got my money stuck with Air Nigeria for a connecting flight I missed.
The upside? – I met REALLY awesome people and learnt a lot conversing with them. Nigerians never slack you know. Our very countenance ensured we got plantain chips and canned drinks to spice the hot topics being discussed 😉
Thoughts of a Calabarboy. 
lol @ supernatural transportation. But seriously, we can’t afford to exercise negligence and nonchalance on any level any longer. A long day it must have been for you, oh dear!
I think we are at a point in our history that if things like this doesn’t change our attitude, nothing ever will.
Thanks for sharing. We need to do this more oftwn.
You’re welcome Eta!
great post. so so sorry about your friend’s loss. such a sad and tragic story. i think of the family everyday since the news broke and can only pray that the good Lord heal and comfort them.
Glad to hear you made it back home safe. the lord deliver us from wicked, corrupt, selfish and completely clueless leaders that do not understand the magnitude of their non chalant actions and lack of concern for others they are supposed to protect/represent.
Thanks Sis! I was quite a sobering experience when you are directly involved with a potential mishap.
lovely piece as always…but if i have to check the tires of every plane i fly, i might as well go the whole hog and check their safety records, engine status and sit in the cockpit with the pilot. there is a reason why i pay (a lot of) taxes, there is a reason why there is a government and there is definitely a reason we have air safety agencies all of who are paid with MY tax money. to get to this point where i become an aeronautic engineer means i am entitled to stop paying taxes and to a refund of some that i have already paid. (i wont go as far as advocating civil disobedience to a non-existent government but hey…if it fits?)
Very valid point Orok. However, in the absence of such an efficient you prescriptively describe, I will rather be vigilant to the extent of my awareness and seek to know more where I can, so I can ask valid questions.
Sigh! We will continue to play russian roulette. It’s our way. Instead of solving these problems we buy private jets. Fix our roads we by the slickest army armoured SUVs, invest in healthcare we send our patients abroad and invest in foreign doctors!!!
I was talking to this guy in Accra who is into purchasing aircrafts for individuals. He said since the Dana aircrash, the demand for private planes have increased in Nigeria. Think about it!
Nice one Reggy,I honestly don’t want to imagine how I would have felt if I were one of d passengers,the fact dat a passenger noticed and not even aero workers shows another slack and negligence on their own part,no value for human lives,so yes,I agree with you,passengers should check d safety of d cars,airplane,any means of transportation they board,but ultimately may God continue to keep and protect us.
NB:I wonder why we are not hearing anything again about d investigation of dana crash ooo,I wonder wats happening to d investigation???our so called leaders have a way of covering things up especially when it doesn’t affect them directly. God heal our nation!!!
Thank God for journey mercies… There really is a need to act upon ideas but how? In Nigeria, where NOTHING absolutely nothing is guaranteed.
My heart still bleeds for the love that was passed away unknowingly.
May their family continue to find peace and comfort in great memories shared. I pray Lord pours his love over as many as are hurting and grieving…
P.S. I like your sense of humour…x
Thanks the King’s Daughter! Please report all these airlines to the King! Perhaps, He will provide us with wisdom to make things work in our country 😀
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