Tragic Loss: Terminally Ill Retired AVM Dies Onboard British Airways

The airline’s crew reportedly fought to preserve the life of a retired Nigerian Air Vice Marshal (AVM) who passed away aboard a British Airways trip to Abuja.

While the medical staff worked to revive the injured military officer, the plane carrying the deceased made an emergency landing at Barcelona’s El Prat Port.

The incident was confirmed by Mrs. Tutu Otuyalo, the airline’s Regional Commercial Manager for Nigeria & Ghana, who stated that the deceased was terminally ill.

The flight was supposed to land in Abuja at 5 am on Monday, October 5, after departing London’s Heathrow Airport at 11 pm on Sunday. However, following the incident, it took an unplanned diversion to Barcelona.

But before his unexpected death, it was learned that the terminally sick retired AVM was being taken back to Abuja for more medication.

British Airways has already expressed regret to the passengers who were traumatized, and yesterday it revealed that a fresh plane was scheduled to fly from Barcelona to Abuja.

Passengers received texts from the airline expressing regret for the inconvenience and reassurance that its Customer Care team would be on hand to help with any queries or issues.

“Travelers are encouraged to use the airline’s Live Chat feature for assistance and anticipate receiving an email with additional details.

The impacted passengers received a general message from British Airways saying, “British Airways acknowledges the inconvenience and thanks passengers for their patience and understanding.”

The New Book by Azu Ishiekwene on Technology and Midlifers

The new book, A Midlifer’s Guide to Content Creation and Profit, was published by novelist, columnist, and journalist Azu Ishiekwene.

With the complex and exciting developments of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the book’s ten chapters concentrate on how older adults can profitably engage with and explore the frontiers of the rapidly changing new media landscape.

“It shares insights with midlifers on the possibilities for rewarding their mental exertions handsomely, whether literary, artistic, or acoustic talent, or the sheer capacity to curate and tell a good story from their experiences using new technologies,” Ishiekwene, affectionately known as Azu, said in a statement.

Published by Premium Times Books, the book is a follow-up to the 2024 publication “Writing for Media and Monetising It” and is regarded as a useful and practical guide for young adults working in the literary and media industries.

As stated in the preface, Toyin Falola, a famous teaching professor in the humanities and historian of African Studies, “The book is a groundbreaking book that challenges the widespread belief, especially among the older generation (Gen X), that aspirations should diminish after the age of 50.”

Premium Times Publisher Dapo Olorunyomi declared, “It’s another masterpiece from Azu, who is reaching new heights not only in his mastery of new media forms but also in his capacity to share his insights in meaningful ways.”

Azu has also co-authored a scholarly article with Prof. Farooq Kperogi titled “Light in a Digital Black Hole: Exploration of Emergent Artificial Intelligence Journalism in Nigeria” that was published in the Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies, published a workbook on content monetization, and given multiple lectures as part of his interest in new media.

According to the release, worldwide distribution platforms and www.azu.media offer his new book, A Midlifer’s Guide to Content Creation and Profit.