Lufthansa Airlines has said the reasons why it offloaded passengers and luggage on its Abuja-Frankfurt flight last Wednesday is due to safety reasons.

In a letter the airline wrote to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), it said it had to lessen the load the aircraft was carrying because of rain and tailwind, disclosing that it knew that part of the airport was under repair because it had earlier received notice to airmen (NOTAM) to that effect.

This has confirmed FAAN’s statement that it issued NOTAM to all airlines operating at the airport. FAAN also disclosed that on the same day (July 23), British Airways operated Boeing B777 at 0816hrs with 245 passengers and 23crew; Qatar Airways operated Boeing B787 at 1403hrs with 251 passengers and 12 crew; Ethiopian Airlines operated Boeing B777 LR aircraft at 1411 hrs, 264 passengers and 14 crew.

Also, Egypt Air operated Boeing B737-800 at 1509hrs with 125 passengers and seven crew; Africa World Airlines operated Embraer E145 at 1305hrswith 40 passengers and 4 crew; Asky Airlines operated B737 at 1719hrs with 64 passengers and 9 crew.

Turkish Airlines also operated Airbus A330 at 2145hrs with 261 passengers and 10 crew; Air Cote D’ivoire operated Airbus A319 at 1047hrs with 84 passengers and 7 crew; Royal Air Maroc operated Boeing B737 – 0718hrs with 162 passengers and 6 crew and Air France operated Airbus A330 at 2152hrs with 215 passengers and 10 crew. (Daily Sun)