A Nigerian family has called for answers following the sudden death of their mother during an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Abuja to Washington DC in the United States.
The family, whose identity was withheld, raised the alarm on social media, describing the circumstances surrounding the woman’s passing as unclear and troubling.
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), one of the deceased’s daughters appealed to passengers who travelled on the same flight to come forward with any information about what happened before her mother died.
She said the family had repeatedly contacted Ethiopian Airlines seeking an explanation, insisting that their mother was healthy before the trip. According to her, the airline has yet to provide a clear account of the incident.
“This woman boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 950 on January 19, 2026, from Abuja to Washington DC and died inside the aircraft,” she said. “She was not sick before travelling, yet the airline has refused to properly explain what happened.”
The daughter also claimed that airline officials who reportedly administered first aid onboard had been warned not to discuss the incident with the family.
She urged fellow Nigerians to help circulate the video and encouraged anyone who was on the same flight to contact the family via email with useful information.
The appeal quickly gained traction online, prompting calls for transparency from both the airline and aviation authorities.
Reacting to the development, the spokesman of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the regulator was aware of the case and had begun engaging both the family and Ethiopian Airlines.
“The NCAA is aware of this incident. We are in constant contact with the family and the airline. Ethiopian Airlines has submitted its report, and we are also awaiting documentation from the family. Our goal is to ensure the matter is fully resolved,” he said.
Efforts to get an official response from Ethiopian Airlines were ongoing, as the airline’s communications strategist, Ikechi Uko, said he would return calls but had not done so at the time of filing this report.
