Arik Air US-Bound Passengers Stranded In Lagos Airport
Over 200 Arik Air New York-bound passengers were stranded at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, for over 12 hours on Sunday, August 3rd, due to scarcity of aviation fuel.
The Arik Air flight W3 107 was scheduled to depart the international wing of Lagos airport for New York, United States of America, at 11.20pm on Sunday, but was delayed due to lack of supply of aviation fuel to the airline by fuel marketers, National Mirror reports.
Lamenting his ordeal, Mr Felix Chukwuemeka, said they were abandoned by the airline in the cold without even addressing them.
"I will lose my job if I get to USA late. My stomach is aching because I have not eaten. They have kept us in the cold here and this is inhuman," he said.
Another passenger, Mr. Clifford Erondu, said the passengers were kept in the dark for several hours as none of the airline's officials came out to tell them why they were being delayed.
Related: Arik Air Apologizes For Horrendous Treatment of Passengers On New York Bound Flight W3107
He explained: "They checked us in, but nobody came out to tell us anything till now. An Arik official later came up this morning to tell us that the aircraft that was supposed to take us has had no aviation fuel in its tank and that the cost of buying the fuel is very high and that the airline could not afford it."
Another stranded passenger, Miss Jemilah Awokoya, alleged that the Arik Air officials said that they pay extra fee of $800 about N129,000 each to secure them an open ticket, which would enable them to fly in a future date if they were unable to travel that day.
The scarcity of aviation fuel, also known as Jet–A1 has been biting hard, affecting flight operations at various airports in the country, a situation that has resulted in delays and outright flight cancellations of flights.
Related: Photos: Tuface Spotted Sleeping With Comedienne Princess On Arik Flight
Several aviation stakeholders and professionals have consistently called on the Federal Government to intervene in the high cost of aviation fuel, which has been fluctuating between N190 and N200 per litre, depending on the marketer an airline is buying from.
Source: Legit.ng
