By Ade Oyeyemi
A passenger has died after suffering a medical emergency aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi to Lagos.
Kenya Airways confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the passenger became unresponsive shortly before the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to the airline, the incident occurred on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at about 9:20pm Nigerian time, approximately 20 minutes before the scheduled landing.
The airline said the aircraft eventually touched down at the Lagos airport at about 9:41pm, after which medical personnel boarded the plane to attend to the passenger.
“Kenya Airways PLC confirms that on Tuesday, 06 October 2026, our flight from Nairobi to Lagos experienced a medical emergency on board at around 21:20 hrs local Nigerian time. One of our passengers was found to be unresponsive approximately 20 minutes before landing in Lagos,” the statement read.
The medical team examined the passenger after the aircraft landed but subsequently confirmed that the individual had died.
Kenya Airways expressed condolences to the deceased passenger’s relatives and friends, while apologising for any inconvenience caused by the incident.
“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused. We uphold and respect the privacy and dignity of all involved,” the airline stated.
The airline said it was working with the deceased passenger’s family, relevant local authorities and aviation regulators to provide necessary assistance and facilitate the required procedures.
It did not disclose the identity of the passenger or the nature of the medical emergency.
