Stranded Abuja-bound passengers ‘pay $20,000’ for private jet to leave Chad

Joy Ezeilo, a professor, says some passengers have paid $20,000 for a private jet to depart N’Djamena.

Ezeilo is one of the Abuja-bound passengers stranded in Chad.

Air France’s flight AF878 was grounded on Sunday after the airliner said its A330’s hull was damaged before takeoff.

The airliner said the damage was as a result of a “heavy thunderstorm”.

The flight was destined for N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, from where it was to takeoff for Abuja and then to Paris.

In a post on X on Sunday, Ezeilo said some passengers are still waiting for an aircraft promised by Air France to airlift them from N’Djamena to Nigeria.

“Some stranded passengers who can afford it and with urgent business to attend have chartered an aircraft costing over 20k USD,” she posted.

“They just departed N’Djamena to Abuja now. I wish them a safe and smooth journey.

“We’re on standby for Air France tonight.”

Earlier, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, said he was briefed that while some passengers have been catered for and put in some hotels, others were complaining about lack of care by the airliner.

“I have also chatted directly with some of the passengers in Chad and Mr. Jean Francois Hasperue, the French Chargé d’Affaire in Nigeria who has been proactive about the matter,” Keyamo had said in a post on X.