Source: Nkechi Naeche | www.businesstodayng.com

A Lufthansa Airlines aircraft, flight LH569 from Nigeria to Frankfurt, Germany early Monday morning made an emergency landing at the TMR Airport in Algiers, Algeria over “electrical smell” in the cabin. The aircraft, Airbus A330, which departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos at 11:30pm on Sunday was scheduled to arrive in Frankfurt six hours later, but made an emergency landing in Algiers when one of the passengers raised alarm of smoke from the cabin. The aircraft had 204 passengers on board It was learnt that attention of the cabin crew was drawn to the smoke who in turn informed the cockpit crew.

The flight was over 90 per cent Nigerians who were going beyond Frankfurt. One of the passengers onboard who simply identified herself as Grace, told our correspondent that the smoke caused huge panic in the air among the passengers, but said the cabin crew assured them of safety. According to her, the pilot later announced to the passengers that the aircraft would make an emergency landing at the airport, but did not disclose the cause of the smoke to the onboard passengers.

As at the time of filing this report, the passengers were still in Algiers as they awaited the deployment of another aircraft from Frankfurt to airlift them to their various destinations. Also, Mr. Hakeem Jimo, the media consultant to the airline in Nigeria in an e-mail to our correspondent confirmed the incident, but noted that it was an “electrical smell” and not fire as claimed by one of the passengers. He assured that the passengers would continue their journey today to Frankfurt and beyond, but were yet to depart Algiers. He insisted that Lufthansa would not toy with the safety of passengers and equipment, stressing that the step taken by the pilot was the best professional decision taken.

He said: “Yesterday’s flight LH569 from Lagos to Frankfurt precautionary diverted to TMR due to an unusual smell in the cabin. The Airbus A330 aircraft with 204 passengers onboard has landed safety in TMR and is currently being examined by technicians. The safety of passengers and crew is Lufthansa’s number one priority at all times

“Passengers will continue their journey to Frankfurt today (Monday) with another Lufthansa aircraft to Germany. Lufthansa apologized for inconveniencies caused.”