“I Thought It Was Heading To U.S” – Stowaway Arrested At Ilorin Airport

A man, identified as Segun Martins, has been arrested by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) after trying to stow away on an Overland Airways flight at Ilorin’s Gen. Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Kwara State.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, said the incident took place around 3:02 pm on Wednesday.

He explained that Martins bypassed airport security and made his way to the plane, attempting to hide near the landing gear as the aircraft prepared for take-off.

Ground security officers quickly detained him and handed him over to the airport police for further investigation.

During preliminary questioning, Martins told authorities he believed the plane was flying to the United States and had planned to leave the country by hiding in the aircraft’s undercarriage.

Achimugu said, “At approximately 1502 hours, a male, identified as Segun Martins, gained unauthorised access to the foot of an Overland aircraft that was about to taxi for takeoff and attempted to conceal himself between the aircraft tyres.

“Ground security apprehended the individual. He was immediately handed over to the Airport Police for further investigation.

“Mr Segun Martins stated that he believed the aircraft was bound for the United States of America and intended to escape by hiding on the aircraft.”

He stated that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

KanyiDaily had reported how a body of an unidentified man was found in the landing gear of a plane that had arrived in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from Lagos, Nigeria.