Man scales airport fence, attempts to jump onto taxing aircraft

The security staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Wednesday apprehended one Olushola Alabibu who attempted to stow away in a taxing aircraft on the tarmac of the airport in Lagos.
Yakubu Dati, FAAN Spokesperson, said the incident occurred at the‎ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
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“The culprit was arrested as soon as he scaled the perimeter fence near the moving aircraft and after interrogation by the Avsec staff, he was immediately handed over to the police for further interrogation,” Mr. Dati said in a statement on Wednesday night.

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Passengers aboard the aircraft said it was an 11.15 a.m. Medview flight 2108‎ from Lagos to Abuja, and they mistook him for a terrorist.

“The plane was already on the runway when the‎ pilot suddenly slowed down,” one of the passengers said on social media.

“We saw a man beside the wing of the plane carrying‎ a black bag. As the plane moved forward, he tried to jump as if trying to grab something.

“At first we thought it was an engineer but what will an engineer be doing beside a moving plane. ‎
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‎The passenger said that at the man’s fourth attempt to throw his bag into the engine compartment, he was seen by the pilot who immediately “turned on the engine to the highest.”

“The wind blew him away, causing him to rumble and roll on the floor. He stood up and ran to the other side of the plane limping. Two airport authorities ran towards him but he ‘escaped.’

“We panicked and the pilot announced that the plane has been compromised, so we disembarked and we are waiting for three o’clock flight.”

In his statement, Mr. Dati said‎ access to restricted areas of the airport, including the tarmac and perimeter roads, is prohibited for unauthorized people, including airport staff, “who have no business being there.”

“This is more so in view of the present security situation in the country,” he said.‎

“The Authority will henceforth not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person, including unauthorized airport staff, who is found loitering around restricted areas of all our airports.”