Lufthansa Airlines has attributed the reasons why it offloaded passengers and luggages on its Abuja-Frankfurt flight last Wednesday to safety reasons, stating that it had to light the aircraft due to rain and tailwind.

The airline had disclosed this in a letter dated July 25, signed by Thorsten Glaeser, Lufthansa Group Station Manager to the Regional Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA).

The airline had said that it knew that part of the airport was under repair because it had earlier received notice to airmen (NOTAM) to that effect, but reduced load for safety considerations. 

This has confirmed FAAN’s statement that it issued NOTAM to all airlines operating at the airport. 

FAAN also disclosed that on the same July 23, British Airways operated Boeing B777 at 08.16 am with 245 passengers and 23 crew members; Qatar Airways operated Boeing B787  at 1403hrs with 251  passengers and 12 crew; Ethiopian Airlines operated Boeing B777 LR aircraft  at 1411 hrs, 264 passengers and 14 crew.

Also, Egypt Air operated Boeing B737-800 at 1509hrs with 125 passengers and 7 crew; Africa World Airlines operated Embraer E145 at 1305hrswith 40 passengers and 4 crew; Asky Airlines operated B737 at 1719hrs with 64 passengers and 9 crew. 

In addition, Turkish Airlines operated Airbus A330 at 2145hrs with 261 passengers and 10 crew; Air Cote D’ivoire operated Airbus A319 at 1047hrs with 84 passengers and 7 crew; Royal Air Maroc operated Boeing B737 – 0718hrs with 162 passengers and 6 crew and Air France operated Airbus A330  at 2152hrs with 215 passengers and 10 crew.