The details of the young Nigerian lady who died aboard an EgyptAir flight on her way to London, United Kingdom, have emerged.
The lady, identified as Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye, left Nigeria for London aboard EgyptAir MS 876 flight to Cairo on Monday through the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
It was learned that Meshioye was going to London on a student visa and boarded EgyptAir on a connecting flight to London via EgyptAir MS777 the following day.
However, she was said to have died aboard the flight, and her corpse was allegedly dropped off in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, by the airline.
Family Speaks
The family of the deceased issued a statement on Friday signed by Olufunmilola Olaniyi-Alabi, the elder sister of the deceased, and demanded that the airline release their daughter's corpse to them.
Olaniyi-Alabi said the airline didn’t inform the family; instead, they received a message from the consular office in Cairo informing them of their daughter's death on board the flight.
She stated that the family has also demanded to know what exactly happened and how to repatriate her corpse back to Nigeria.
She said, "My sister left Lagos for the UK on Monday at 14:00 via EgyptAir and eventually died during her transit from Lagos to Cairo, according to the little information we have."
Olaniyi-Alabi said they called EgyptAir customer care and all other contact phone numbers on their website, but received no response throughout Wednesday. When someone finally picked up the phone, they quickly hung up.
"It was only once that a man picked up the call that we put through to the EgyptAir Regional Office in London, and he said the London office was not aware of what happened and they didn’t have any information to share with us.
"So, we were left with no choice but to report to the UK Police Department on Wednesday, and they later confirmed that our sister was not in the UK. They advised us to contact Cairo or Lagos airports. We contacted the agent who sold the ticket to her, and the agent sent us proof that she did not board the plane going to Heathrow from Cairo," she explained.
Olaniyi-Alabi disclosed that it was at this point that they intensified their efforts to get in touch with EgyptAir.
She said, "My husband and I reside in Leeds, UK, and later traveled to London (Heathrow) on Wednesday night. We demanded to see the EgyptAir regional manager in their London office, who made some calls on Thursday afternoon in her office to their Cairo office.
"She later informed us that Remi fell sick on the plane, and upon landing in Cairo, they rushed her to a hospital in town, where she later died. Obtaining more information from her about how she died was not quite successful. She said the Nigerian Embassy has been informed, and they should have contacted us. She later called the Nigerian consular, Saliu Agraza.
"I strongly feel that EgyptAir should have contacted us as the passenger's next of kin instead of us struggling to get information, which they have yet to provide as of this time that I am writing.
"We spoke to the Nigerian Embassy, represented by Saliu Agraza, who responded that EgyptAir only informed them on Tuesday that Remi was dead and handed over her body to them but didn't have any other information or contact details of her relatives.
"EgyptAir further stated that only the Nigerian Embassy, represented by Saliu Agraza, as a Nigerian Consular, would be able to write and demand information about what happened to Remilekun on the plane and at the airport, as well as request all her belongings and documents in their possession, including the CCTV footage in the plane and at the airport."
She alleged that EgyptAir is hiding the truth of what happened to her sister on the plane and on landing at the airport on Monday night, and they do not want to take responsibility for what happened to her.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Remilekun Toyosi Meshioye have left her family distraught and searching for answers. As they grapple with their grief, a sense of frustration and anger grows within them as they claim that EgyptAir is hiding the truth and refusing to take responsibility for her untimely demise.
Olufunmilola Olaniyi-Alabi, the elder sister of the deceased, expressed her disappointment in the airline's lack of communication and transparency in the aftermath of the tragic incident. She recounted the family's futile attempts to contact EgyptAir customer care and their London office, only to be met with silence or evasive answers. It is as if the airline wants to distance itself from any responsibility, leaving the family to navigate this painful ordeal alone.
The family's search for information led them to the UK Police Department, who confirmed that Meshioye did not arrive in the country. This revelation left the family deeply concerned about what could have befallen her during her journey. Desperately seeking answers, they reached out to the Nigerian Embassy, who informed them that EgyptAir had notified them of Meshioye's death but provided little additional information.
Their frustrations escalated when they finally spoke to an EgyptAir representative, who claimed that Meshioye had fallen ill on the flight and was immediately taken to a hospital upon landing in Cairo. However, attempts to obtain more information about her exact cause of death proved fruitless. With each passing moment, the family's desire for clarity and closure intensifies.
Olaniyi-Alabi questioned why EgyptAir failed to contact them directly as the next of kin and instead left the burden on the family to unearth the truth. It is a burden made heavier by the lack of cooperation from the airline. She firmly believes that they are concealing crucial information, including the CCTV footage aboard the plane and at the airport, which could shed light on the circumstances surrounding Meshioye's death.
The grieving sister revealed that EgyptAir redirected them to the Nigerian Embassy for any further inquiries, claiming that only they can formally request information about Meshioye's belongings, documents, and what transpired on the flight and at the airport. This bureaucratic runaround only fuels the family's suspicion that EgyptAir is attempting to shirk accountability and avoid confronting the truth.
As they continue to navigate this tumultuous journey, the family remains resolute in their quest for justice. They believe that they deserve answers and transparency from EgyptAir, including the repatriation of their beloved daughter's body back to Nigeria. With each passing day, their resolve strengthens, determined to uncover the truth behind Meshioye's untimely passing.