By Margaret Adeyileka
I traveled on board Turkish airlines flight number TK 0626 from Lagos to Istanbul on the 4th of April 2023 en-route to London Heathrow where I spent six days in Istanbul before proceeding to London.
The check-in formalities and boarding at Lagos Airport was normal but on arrival in Istanbul I discovered the handlers have damaged my scooter (wheelchair), which is my only means of mobility. I complained to the people in charge at the airport and they did nothing. As a matter of fact, it was treated with levity.
I decided to take it in my stride as I had a tight schedule in Istanbul before heading to London. I had to get my agent there to assist me get someone to fix it at my own cost and inconvenience so, my movement will be easy and affected my schedules for the first two days as I could not perform at task without my scooter.
I nonetheless proceeded with my trip to London on 10 April on TK 1979, the check-in process was normal and there were no challenges as the flight was heading to London, United Kingdom where there are strict laws and rules that protect people travelling with disabilities.
After my stay in London, I boarded same Turkish airlines flight TK 1984 26 April 2023 back to Istanbul with a connection to Lagos Nigeria on a long layover in Istanbul (about 9 hours) there was no provisions for refreshments or anything of comfort for those long hours lay over.
However, boarding the connecting flight TK 0625 to Lagos- Nigeria on 27 April 2023 at the scheduled departure time of 14:15, the drama started and the whole structure and attitude of the personnel was far different gong to Lagos than the same flight to London. I was put on the inflight wheelchair and being wheeled to my seat, the isle was quite narrow, therefore the wheelchair could not navigate effectively. I was puzzled why they use a large inflight wheelchair for a narrow body aircraft.
I requested for the inflight supervisor’s attention and when she got to me, she just lost all manner of professionalism and said “throw her out of the plane and call me the police”. I became instantly stressed and wondered if I would have been treated this way like Trash if I wasn’t disabled and a wheelchair user, the lower thoughts came through my mind and also wondered if it was because I was a Lagos bound passenger as this will not happen on a flight to Europe or the USA.
At this point, I told her I was a proud Educated Nigerian and I know my rights. I insisted that “a million of you can’t throw me out of this plane”. On hearing the commotion, Nigerians on board who couldn’t stand the prejudice to a Disabled Person, and to a Nigerian with their insensitivity started berating the supervisor.
At this time, the attention of Hon Faridah Odangi Suliman, a business class passenger, was drawn to the unbelievable treatment of a Nigerian on a wheelchair. She quickly alerted Honourable Stella Okotete, another Business Class Passenger, who immediately intervened and stood up to the Crew supervisor and called her to order for her hash attitude to the disabled passenger and the same time de-escalated the situation in a professional manner and calmed the other Nigerians on the flight. Without her fast intervention, the situation on board would have resulted into mayhem.
Honourable Okotete went further and with the help of two other Nigerian passengers helped lift me and upgraded my seat to her business class seat, which she graciously vacated for me and went to take my seat in the economy class. Throughout the flight she kept checking on me till we touched down in Murtala Mohamed International Airport.
Through the flight, Hon Faridah Odangi Suliman and Hon Stella Okotete provided a much-needed pastoral care and they quickly restored my confidence in life with their act of humility and generosity at the lowest point of my life.
Another thing that bothered me was that the captain never showed up throughout the time of the commotion and after the flight had taken off. When I confronted him after we landed, he claimed it was because the flight was ready for take-off, which I felt was an excuse for his neglect and ineptitude. I also feel the ill treatment is because I’m a Nigerian living with disability and on a flight to Lagos where attitude of the crew is different from other routes they fly.
I am a frequent flyer and a businesswoman who has not allowed my disability to restrict what I can achieve in life. I am a proud Nigeria and I pray we can hold to account the attitude of these foreign Airlines (Especially Turkish Airlines) to Nigerians and especially to disable passengers.
I call on the federal government agencies to call out these airlines and their attitude towards Nigerians, we are hardworking people of honour, and we should be respected regardless of our conditions.
…Margaret Arinola Adeyileka can be reached via +2348033225527. nolasharon@yahoo.com
