A Nigerian family has called for an investigation into the death of their mother aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight en route from Abuja to Washington DC, United States.
The family, who requested anonymity, raised the alarm via social media, claiming that the woman died on the aircraft under circumstances that remain unclear.
In a video shared on X, one of the deceased’s daughters appealed to fellow passengers who were on the same flight to provide information on events leading up to her mother’s death.
She said the family had repeatedly contacted Ethiopian Airlines to obtain clarity on what happened but alleged that the airline had not given a satisfactory explanation. According to her, the woman was in good health before embarking on the trip.
The daughter also urged Nigerians to continue circulating the video to attract the attention of relevant authorities.
Her words: “This woman boarded Ethiopian Airlines on 19th January, 2026 from Abuja to Washington DC but died inside the plane. The family has contacted the airline to know the circumstances surrounding her death because she was not sick, but the airline has refused to speak with us.
“We are using this opportunity to call on anyone who travelled on the same aircraft, ET 950, to please get in touch with us through the email address I will drop here.
“Even airline officials who administered first aid to her on the plane have told us that they have been warned not to speak with the family or anyone about the incident. Please inbox us via this email: [email protected] if you have any information regarding our mum’s death.”
The appeal has since generated widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians calling for transparency from the airline and regulatory authorities.
Responding to the incident, the spokesman for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the agency was aware of the case and was engaging both the family and Ethiopian Airlines.
He said: “The NCAA is aware of this case. We are in touch with the family of the deceased as well as the airline. Ethiopian Airlines has submitted their report, and we are waiting for some reports from the family.
“We speak with the family almost daily (we already spoke today), and we are committed to ensuring that full closure is achieved.”
When contacted, Ethiopian Airlines’ communication strategist, Ikechi Uko, requested that questions be sent to him for onward transmission to the airline. However, no response had been received as of press time.
(PUNCH)
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