Arik Air passengers stranded in London

Arik Air has reportedly cancelled its September 12 flight to Nigeria without telling the passengers the reasons behind surrounding such unilateral decision.

Passengers who’re yet to board the aircraft got the rudest shock of their lives when the cancellation was officially announced around 9.48pm Tuesday night (Sept 12). There was confusion momentarily at the Arik desk in Gate 14, Terminal 4 of the Heathrow Airport.

To add salt to the injury, all the passengers became stranded at airport, waiting for the bus provided by Arik to take them to their hotels.

According to one of the affected passengers, Arik management din not issue any official statement to explain the position of things and the plans in the offing to take the passengers back to Nigeria at the time of filling this report.

Different reasons were said to have been adduced to the cause of the flight cancellation. Some said it’s due to some technical faults developed by the Arik aircraft mid-air before it landed at the Heathrow Airport.

The source said everything was humanly done to fix the technical challenges but to no avail. Thus, the Heathrow Airport management said Arik should be restricted from flying back to Nigeria in order to avert major disasters.

Another source said Arik Air has a huge debt to settle with the Heathrow Airport management.

The source said Arik is known to be a major debtor at the Heathrow Airport. “Even in Nigeria, Arik Air has a huge debt on its neck. You’ll be shocked to know that Arik has more than N100 billion debt on its neck to settle with FAAN and others. Some Nigerians like cutting corners – too bad.”

Prominent people on board the cancelled flight was said to have included former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; amongst others.