NIGERIA: Hundreds of passengers stranded in Lagos after European air space shut down due to volcanic dust cloud drifting from Iceland

Record ID: 234693

  • Title: NIGERIA: Hundreds of passengers stranded in Lagos after European air space shut down due to volcanic dust cloud drifting from Iceland
  • Date: 20th April 2010
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (APRIL 19, 2010) (REUTERS) MURTALA MOHAMMED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT KLM PLANE EMIRATES PLANE AIRPORT OFFICIALS AT THE LUGGAGE SECTION OF THE AIRPORT EMPTY ARRIVAL HALL PASSENGERS AT KLM COUNTER PASSENGER AT THE DELTA AIRLINE COUNTER STRANDED PASSENGERS SEATED AT THE DEPARTURE HALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN ODION, STRANDED PASSENGER, SAYING: "I have been waiting here since Thursday, we have been sleeping around. I left my luggage in the left baggage area." PASSENGERS WAITING FOR FLIGHT TO BRITAIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHUKS ONOCHIE, UK BOUND PASSENGER, SAYING: "They asked me to come over here to be checking, then come over later tonight at 10:45, that's what they have been telling me. I don't know what is going to happen when I come back." PASSENGERS WAITING FIDELIA NJEZE, NIGERIA'S MINISTER OF AVIATION, TALKING TO AIRPORT OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIDELIA NJEZE, NIGERIA'S MINISTER OF AVIATION, SAYING: "It's a natural thing, it's a natural disaster which no mortal can actually determine now, so we are watching it now, we have been praying that within a short while the volcanic ash will clear and flight operations will commence again." PASSENGERS QUEUING AT KLM TICKETING OFFICE PASSENGERS IN THE DEPARTURE HALL
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Travel / Tourism,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA5VQD4A8XVMA3XFHEL1OA8J7YJ
  • Story Text: Hundreds of passengers are stranded at Nigeria's Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, victims of the ban on flights over Europe.
    Nigeria's main international airport, which handles thousands of international bound passengers every week, was on Monday (April 19) almost deserted apart from stranded Europe-bound passengers who crowded check in counters and ticket offices to get information.
    Passengers have been sleeping rough in the airport terminal as they waited to fly out, worn out by the discomfort and uncertainty caused by thje Iceland volcano eruption.
    Nigeria's newly appointed aviation minister, FIdelia Jeze, visited the airport and commented: "It's a natural disaster which no mortal can actually determine now, so we are watching it now, we have been praying that within a short while the volcanic ash will clear and flight operations will commence again."
    Every week hundreds of Nigerians fly first class to Europe for business, leisure or education, constituting a significant income for international airliners.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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