A Fly2Sky Airbus A320-200 on behalf of United Nigeria Airlines, registration LZ-FSA performing flight UN-504 from Lagos to Abuja (Nigeria), departed Lagos’ runway 18L, turned east and continued on a straight heading towards Asaba (Nigeria) rather than turning northeast towards Abuja and landed on Asaba’s runway 11 about 47 minutes after departure.
Passengers reported cabin crew welcomed them to Abuja, but to their astonishment they found themselves in Asaba about 160nm south of Abuja.
The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Asaba due to weather conditions in Abuja, there was a miscommunication between (Nigerian) cabin crew and (Bulgarian) flight crew due to the language barrier causing the wrong announcement of arrival in Abuja. The aircraft subsequently continued to Abuja.
Air Traffic Controllers at Abuja reported the weather was fine all day and thus contradicted the statement by the airline.
Nigeria’s DGCA opened an investigation, grounded the involved Fly2Sky Aircraft leased out to United Nigerian Airlines and the flight crew pending investigation. The DGCA stated the airline’s explanation was “unacceptable”.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation stated: “There was no weather problem in Abuja yesterday it was a problem of a wet lease plane where the pilot and crew were all foreigners not Nigerians so they were not familiar with the Nigeria terrain. … From the transcript we heard that tower kept asking the pilot to confirm again that you are going to Abuja not Asaba, the pilot replied no, Asaba. Before they took off the tower asked again and it was the same response.”
According to local media there was a confusion between flights UN-504 to Abuja and flight UN-506 to Asaba departing about the same time. The flight crew was given the flight plan to Asaba rather than to Abuja.
Source – https://avherald.com
