A passenger has died aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi, Kenya, to Lagos after reportedly becoming unresponsive about 20 minutes before the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Kenya Airways confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, saying the medical emergency occurred at about 9:20 p.m. Nigerian time on Tuesday.
According to the airline, its crew administered first aid to the passenger in line with their training and followed established emergency procedures before the aircraft landed at 9:41 p.m.
“Upon landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 21:41 hrs, the aircraft was met by medical personnel, and upon further examination, the medical personnel confirmed that the passenger had passed away,” the airline said.
Kenya Airways did not disclose the identity of the deceased or the cause of death, citing the need to protect the privacy and dignity of those involved.
The airline expressed condolences to the passenger’s family and friends, adding that it was providing support in coordination with the family, local authorities and aviation regulators.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed that the police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the passenger’s death.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said he was briefed about the incident by Kenya Airways’ country manager on Wednesday morning.
According to Achimugu, the passenger had reportedly been picked up in Madagascar after being denied entry into the country and was being returned to Nigeria by Kenya Airways.
He explained that the airline was responsible for returning the passenger because it had transported him to Madagascar.
Achimugu further disclosed that the passenger allegedly became restless and aggressive during the return flight, attempted to gain access to the cockpit and later tried to open the aircraft’s rear door.
He said the passenger was subsequently restrained by members of the crew.
“When he got into the aircraft, he became restless and aggressive inside the aircraft, wanted to enter the cockpit and later wanted to open the rear door, but was later tied down,” he said.
Achimugu said the passenger was pronounced dead after the aircraft arrived in Lagos.
However, he cautioned against pre-empting the outcome of the police investigation, adding that the deceased’s family could request an autopsy as the investigation progresses.
The spokesperson for the Airport Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Muhammed Adeola, confirmed that investigators had commenced work on the case.
Adeola described the deceased as an “inadmissible passenger” and said complications reportedly developed during the return flight from Madagascar.
“Yes, it’s true, and investigations have commenced. It’s an issue of an inadmissible passenger, and the said complications arose on their way back,” he said.
He added that the passenger reportedly became unable to breathe before medical personnel were alerted ahead of the aircraft’s arrival in Lagos.
According to him, the police have taken statements from members of the flight crew, including the captain, as part of the investigation.
He also disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited at a morgue in Ikeja.
The incident is not the first reported case of a passenger dying aboard an international flight bound for Lagos.
In March 2019, a 54-year-old passenger aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta, United States, to Lagos was found unresponsive shortly before the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The passenger was later confirmed dead after the aircraft landed.
Medical emergencies have also resulted in international flights returning to Lagos.
In September 2025, a United Airlines flight from Lagos to Washington, DC, returned to Lagos after a passenger reportedly suffered a medical emergency about 90 minutes into the journey. Medical personnel attended to the passenger after the aircraft landed.
Kenya Airways said it would continue to provide the necessary support to the deceased passenger’s family and cooperate with the relevant authorities and aviation regulators.
The airline also apologised to other passengers for any inconvenience caused by the incident.
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