Lufthansa Clarifies Abuja Flight Incident: Weather, NOTAM Acknowledged as Airline Apologises for Passenger Disruptions
Lufthansa Airlines has issued a detailed clarification regarding the disruption of its Flight LH595 on 23 July at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, attributing the incident to adverse weather conditions and confirming awareness of prior runway advisories.
In a formal communication to the Regional Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Abuja, Lufthansa’s Station Manager, Thorsten Glaeser, explained the sequence of events and the rationale behind the decision to reduce passenger load on the affected flight.
“Of course, Lufthansa was aware of the valid NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for runways 04 and 22, and the pilots were sensitised accordingly,” Glaeser stated.
However, he noted that the aircraft captain, after assessing the weather, anticipated heavy rainfall and a strong tailwind component on runway 04. These conditions, he said, required an adjustment to the aircraft’s maximum take-off weight for safety reasons.
“As a result, it became necessary to offload not only all baggage but also to exclude several passengers from boarding,” he explained. The decision was made at the onset of boarding and led to the exclusion of certain passengers at the gate, which understandably triggered “a great deal of resentment,” Glaeser admitted.
Despite the inconvenience, Lufthansa assured that its personnel and the Aviation Security (Avsec) team handled the situation with utmost professionalism and restraint. All affected passengers were duly informed by the Lufthansa Duty Manager, and their rights under air passenger regulations were fully upheld.
In managing the fallout from the disruption, Lufthansa activated its hotel partner, Continental Hotels, and organised transport for the displaced travellers. Of the 46 affected passengers, 42 were taken to the hotel while four opted to return home.
According to the airline, 34 passengers were rebooked on the next available connections, while the remaining passengers either made their own arrangements or opted for refunds.
Glaeser further stated that guests were progressively departing the hotel as they embarked on alternative flights. He reiterated that all passengers were entitled to exercise their rights and could file claims through Lufthansa Customer Services.
The Lufthansa Station Manager concluded the letter by extending appreciation to FAAN officials for their cooperation and swift facilitation of runway repairs, which ultimately contributed to mitigating further delays.
The clarification comes amid growing scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the incident, especially after initial reports speculated that Lufthansa was unaware of the runway condition — a claim this correspondence effectively dispels.
