๐ดk๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ต๐๐ต๐ k๐ช๐๐ฌ๐ off it๐ 39๐ก๐ฉ a๐๐ฏ๐๐ท๐๐ณ๐ ๐ข๐๐บ with ๐๐๐ตโ 39 ๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐๐ต๐ lined up for commissioning, including a new 180-seater Airbus
By Anietie Usen
She was the cynosure of all eyes.As the 71 tonnes brand new Airbus A220-300 touched down at the Victor Attah International Airport,VAIA, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, September 1, 2026, the chief pilot, Captain Ruth Adeola Adebanwo, went instantly into Nigerian Aviation book of records as the first woman ever to fly a new aircraft into Nigeria.
The attention of the mammoth crowd at the MRO apron quickly shifted away from the top government dignitaries, including Governor Umo Eno and the Nigerian Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio, who had landed 10 minutes earlier, before the daring woman in the cockpit touched down, after 15 hours from Airbus Mirabel factory near Montreal in Canada.
The massive crowd in front of the MRO waiting for her to shut down the engine and step out of the cockpit into a heroic welcome, were growing impatient, as Captain Ruth lingered for some 10 or more minutes in the cockpit. They didnโt know that aircraft are not turned off like keke Napep or minibus. Captain Ruth was quietly and gracefully going through the checklist that must precede engine shutdown.
