Femi Adesina: How presidential jet with Buhari onboard nearly tumbled in Malta

Femi Adesina, ex-media aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has narrated how the presidential jet nearly tumbled with his principal onboard during landing in Malta.

Adesina in his book titled: ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023)’, said he accompanied his principal to Malta in November 2015 for the commonwealth heads of government meeting, noting that the flight was a “frightful experience”.

The former presidential spokesperson said they experienced many hours of turbulence and when it was time to land, the presidential jet nearly turned over.

“Many times, I pitied President Buhari when he was knocking hard at 80, and still logging hours upon hours in the sky,” Adesina wrote in his book.

“Yes, you have the comfort and safety of a well-maintained presidential jet, but nothing still beats having your feet on terra firma.

“A presidential jet is not immune from bad weather and the accompanying turbulence (many hours of that we experienced). Neither is it spared from what aviators call wind shear (a sudden change in the direction of the wind). We had a frightful experience.

“In November 2015, we travelled to Malta to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and it was an uneventful flight till the flight crew announced that we should get ready for landing.

“Few seconds from touching the tarmac, the Boeing 737 business jet got buffeted from all sides and began to sway dangerously. On touching down, it pirouetted and gyrated like a drunken sailor; and was almost turning over.

“Which kind of landing is this? The President said. I was seated with him in his special cabin.”

He said the pilot quickly apologised for the awkward landing and blamed it on the change in direction of the wind.

“The aircraft stabilised, and the pilot spoke to us from the cockpit,” Adesina added.

“We have just experienced what is called a wind sheer, a sudden change in the direction of the wind. Apologies Mr. President, and distinguished passengers,” he quoted the pilot as saying.

Adesina said his principal made a total of 94 trips during his spell as Nigeria’s president and also listed all the countries Buhari visited.