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COVID-19: US Nationals Face Flight Hitch, Stranded At Lagos Airport
Hundreds of Americans scheduled to be evacuated through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to the United States were on Friday stranded at the airport.
This is as it was gathered that the Abuja flight may eventually take off as planned by Friday night.
But, as at the time of compiling this report, the Americans were still at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, awaiting departure.
On the Lagos flight, it was gathered that the US nationals who had already checked-in by the airport authorities, later went to the baggage reclaim area to collect their baggage through arrival baggage belts and later returned home.
This was just as the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) announced that the total number of coronavirus cases in Nigeria hits 190 with six new suspects from Osun State.
Tthe Americans could not travel out of the country due to lack of airspace permit.
It was learnt that some countries the aircraft would pass through, shut their airspace permanently due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic.
The lack of airspace permit, eventually led to cancellation of the flight. The aircraft could not over-fly some countries.
Overflight permits are authorisations from Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) to overfly that country’s airspace.
These differ in terms of regulations and airspace coverage area, depending on the country.
It’s always important to check over-flight permit requirements in advance with your 3rd-party provider for the planned route of flight.
However, our correspondent learnt from a source at the US Department of State that the Friday’s flight has been rescued for Monday next week.
The Saturday’s flight was supposed to be operated by Omni Air International with a Boring 767-200 aircraft and with the call sign: N207AX/1005.
he expected time of arrival attheairportwas06:15hrs, while the expected time of departure from Nigeria was 08:15hrs.
The Captain of the Captain of the cancelled flight was Crabb Michael Ray.
The cancellation flight reads in part: ”The operator has advised while aircraft was en route that aircraft was forced to return back due to crew illegality issues without further details.
”We hereby request that all passengers already checked-in and stamped out be stamped back.”
Our correspondent had reported exclusively earlier in the week the plans of the U.S. Departmentof Statetoevacuate its citizenry from Nigeria.
A letter from the department sighted by our correspondent had revealed that the flight, which would depart from MMIA and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, separately, would terminate at Washington, D.C.
The government pointed out that the one-way flight would cost interested U.S. citizen between $1,300 and $1,400 per person, but said such beneficiary would reimburse the government for the full cost of the flight at a later date.
The letter read in part: “The U.S. Consulate in Lagos has confirmed evacuation flights for this week. Flights will depart from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and fly directly to Washington-Dulles International Airport in Virginia (Washington, D.C.). If we have space for you on the flight, you will receive a confirmation letter sent to the e-mail you provided in the evacuation request form. Please monitor your Spam/Junk e-mail as well.
“Please do not come to the airportunlessyouhavereceived a letter indicating that you have a seat on the flight. You will be turned away and not allowed to enter the airport.
“Please note that this evacuation flight is a one-way flight at the expense of the traveler(s). No money is required upfront. All individuals who choose to return to the United States on a flight organised by the U.S. Department of State will be required to sign a promissory note to reimburse the government for the full cost of each seat on the flight. The anticipated cost of the flight is between $1,300 and $1,400 per person.
“Travelers will be responsible for arranging and funding their own travel from the Washington, D.C. area to their final destination, and for any return flight to Nigeria. The U.S. Department of State is unable to assist with identifying resources or providing funding for housing, food, or transportation in Nigeria or within the United States.”
A total of 637 French and German citizens were on Thursday evacuated from Nigeria through the airport.
Air France’s A330 airplane which was the first to land departed at 13.56hr while Lufthansa German Airline departed with her nationals at 15.46hr.
Before their departure, the Germans underwent airport security formalities and screening for COVID-19 as they awaited the Lufthansa flight which landed few hours after for the evacuation under ‘emergency’ and ‘humanitarian’ flight operations.
In its Twitter handle, NCDC said: “Six new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Osun State, Nigeria.
“As at 11:00 am 3rd April there are 190 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Twenty have been discharged withtwodeaths,” theagencysaid.
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Lagos State government also said it has discharged four more COVID-19 patients from its Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) consisting of three females and one male who have recovered fully and tested negative twice.
Announcing this, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said: “More great news from our Infectious Disease Hospital as four patients; three females and one male have recovered fully, tested negative twice and have been discharged.
“This gives us a lot of hope as we continue to listen to our health experts and provide the resources to beat #COVID19.”
However, Sanwo-Olu also frowned at social and sporting activities of youths which was reported in some places.
He said: “While we celebrate the small mercies, reports of youths gathering for social and sporting activities as well as those gathering for religious purposes are unfortunate. This kind of insensitivity could be the weak link in our collective effort to break the chain of transmission.”
Sanwo-Olu further alerted that anyone could be a carrier of #COVID19 without showing symptoms immediately based on the global transmission findings which revealed that one weak link can lead to community vulnerability.
The Governor said; “Anyone could be a carrier of #COVID19 without showing symptoms immediately and looking at global transmission,one weak link can lead to community vulnerability.”
He appealed to everyone to obey the stay at home order, saying; “Please help the government, @NCDCgov and @ LSMOH.”
Consequent upon speculations that Lagos State governor, Sanwo-Olu has not undergone coronavirus test to determine his status, the commissioner of health, Professor Akin Abayomi declared on Friday that the governor and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, have tested negative for the coronavirus.
Prof. Abayomi, announced this on his official Twitter account under his #COVID19Lagos Update tweets in the early hours of Friday.
According to a statement issued by Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and made available to Saturday INDEPENDENT on Friday, Prof. Abayomi also revealed that personal aides of theGovernorandtheFirstLady who got tested for the Coronavirus are all negative.
The tweet reads: “I am happy to announce that #COVID19Lagos Incident Commander, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu @ jidesanwoolu, the first Lady of Lagos@jokesanwooluandtheir immediate family members, as well as aides, have all tested negative to #COVID19.
Prof. Abayomi thanked Lagosians for their support and show of understanding as the state government continues to battle against the spread of the virus.
The health commissioner, however, urged Lagosians to keep up with the social distancing practice, saying that the state was poised to winning the battle against the coronavirus.
“We thank Lagos residents for their concern and support. We urge all to maintain social distancing.
“Together we can defeat #COVID19! Please stay safe #ForGreaterLagos,” he said.
