By Peterside Rejoice
A British Airways flight from London to Abuja was forced to make an emergency diversion to Barcelona, Spain, after a retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal, Osita Obierika, reportedly died mid-air in the early hours of Monday.
The deceased, said to be in his early 80s and a native of Anambra State, was among the few surviving retired Air Vice Marshals from the state. He was reportedly ill and being flown back to Nigeria for further medical treatment when he passed away onboard.
The British Airways aircraft had departed London’s Heathrow Airport at about 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, and was expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 5:00 a.m. on Monday. However, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the flight to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain.
According to sources who spoke with the premier news, the sudden death of the retired military officer caused confusion among passengers. The distress reportedly triggered a secondary medical emergency involving a pregnant woman, whose condition remained unclear at the time of filing this report.
British Airways, in an official statement to passengers, confirmed the medical emergency and expressed condolences over the incident. The airline apologised for the inconvenience caused by the diversion and assured passengers of its continued support.
“Passengers are advised to expect an email with more information and can reach out to the airline’s Live Chat feature for support. British Airways acknowledges the inconvenience and thanks passengers for their patience and understanding,” the message read.
Following the incident, the airline arranged a replacement aircraft to continue the journey to Abuja. Initially scheduled to depart Barcelona at 2:00 p.m. local time, the flight was later rescheduled to 2:50 p.m., with an expected arrival in Abuja by 5:45 p.m. Nigerian time.
The situation caused significant delays and anxiety among passengers, many of whom commended the cabin crew for maintaining calm during the emergency. Aviation authorities in both Spain and Nigeria were notified of the incident in line with international protocol.
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