Federal Governments Impounds Angolan Plane in Lagos

Federal Government on Wednesday grounded an Angolan Airlines owned plane for flying illegally into the country.

The plane, Boeing 777, was impounded shortly after landing on Wednesday afternoon with passengers.

The jumbo jet belongs to Angola Airlines, a state-owned airline and flag carrier of the Angolan government.

It was learnt that the plane flew into the country without the requisite and mandatory approvals from the Nigerian authorities.

Aviation sources said the jet which was flown into the country purportedly to evacuate stranded Angolan citizens in Nigeria was found to be carrying fee-paying passenger.

However, the number of passengers on board the over 300-seater plane could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report on Thursday night.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has commenced further investigation into the matter, it was learnt.

The Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. James Odaudu, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report. Several calls made to his line did not connect. Also, a response to a text message sent to his line was still being awaited.

However, multiples sources from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Aviation confirmed the development on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter.