Arik Air 737 Makes Emergency Landing in Abuja, Nigeria Due to Unruly Passenger

Arik Air (Boeing 737-800 (pictured)

An Arik Air plane bound for Enugu from Maiduguri (Nigeria) made an emergency landing when a passenger later identified as a Muslim Cleric starting yelling on the flight.

The man started shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) while the Boeing 737 was in the air scaring the other passengers.

‘The scare on board the plane made the pilot of the Boeing 737-700 to immediately contact the control tower in Abuja and called for an emergency landing permit, which was immediately granted him.

The statement reads in part: “However, mid-air, the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming ”God is great.” Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour, rushed to apprehend him. A thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him. The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.’

“The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at exactly 1253 hrs and the suspect handed over to the State Security Service (SSS) at about 1445 hrs where he is currently being interrogated.

There were no injuries reported.

Source

Image: Flickr [markyharky]