By Mandere Onyinkwa
A passenger on a Kenya Airways (KQ) flight from Nairobi to Lagos died on Tuesday evening after becoming unresponsive shortly before the aircraft landed in Nigeria.
Kenya Airways said the medical emergency occurred at about 9:20pm Nigerian local time, approximately 20 minutes before the aircraft was due to land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
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According to the national carrier, the crew responded immediately and administered first aid to the passenger in line with their training and established emergency procedures.
“Our crew administered first aid as per their training and followed all emergency procedures,” Kenya Airways said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The aircraft landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 9:41pm, where it was met by medical personnel.
“Upon further examination, the medical personnel confirmed that the passenger had passed away,” the airline said.
The airline did not disclose the identity of the passenger or provide details on the circumstances surrounding the death, citing the need to protect the privacy and dignity of those involved.
KQ said it was working with the deceased passenger’s family, local authorities and aviation regulators to provide the necessary support and coordinate the response to the incident.
“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” the airline said.
It also apologised to other passengers for any inconvenience caused by the incident, while reiterating that it would respect the privacy of the deceased and the family.
Kenya Airways said it would continue providing support to the family and cooperating with relevant authorities as they handle the matter.
