A retired Nigerian Air Force Senior Officer, Air Vice Marshal Osita Obierika, has died mid-air on a British Airways flight en route Abuja from Heathrow Airport, London.
An accomplished Officer and gentleman man, fondly called “Prof”, he was a native of Enugu- Ukwu, Anambra State.
Allegedly in his early 80’s, he has been battling with cancer-related ill-health in London and had, also had treatment at Philadelphia, USA. A mourning colleague lamented that the late AVM had assured him he would be on his feet soon.
It is not known why he left London, but speculation is that he may have been told that the end was near, prompting him to take the difficult decision to fly back home.
A reliable source at the Abuja Airport, said a number of senior officers were there waiting to receive him on arrival when the news of his passing on board the flight was broken to them. They were devastated, the source said.
The fight which was scheduled to arrive Abuja, Nigeria, by 5.00am, Monday, having departed Heathrow by 11.00pm, Sunday, declared an onboard emergency, and diverted to Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, to land.
It is not known if his body was deposited at a funeral home in Barcelona pending when an arrangement will be made to fly him home or if he would be brought back to Abuja on a rescheduled BA flight after protocols.
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