Some journalists returning to Lagos from a health reporting workshop organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) were among dozens of passengers stranded for several hours on Thursday following prolonged flight delays and logistical problems involving United Nigeria Airlines and Air Peace at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The journalists had attended a two-day workshop on investigative health reporting held in Abuja between 19 and 20 May.
Thursday’s disruption began when passengers booked on United Nigeria Airlines flight UN0505 from Abuja to Lagos, scheduled for 9:00 a.m., arrived at the airport only to discover that the flight had been delayed over technical issues.
Several affected passengers, including journalists returning from the workshop, told PREMIUM TIMES they received no prior notice before arriving at the airport.
It was not until about 12:09 p.m. that passengers received a message from the airline informing them that the flight had been rescheduled to depart at 12:55 p.m. because of “unscheduled maintenance.”
