One of the survivors of the ill-fated Associated Airlines plane that crashed in Lagos State with the remains of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Olusegun Agagu — Oluwatoyin Samson — a hostess has recounted her ordeal in the hands of the management of the airline, alleging that the carrier neglected and humiliated her.
The crash occurred less than a minute after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on October 3, 2013. The accident killed many on board, but four people survived. According to reports from EagleOnline Samson was one of the people at the second Engr. Zakariya Haruna memorial lecture held in Lagos to recount her experience. She was one of the air hostesses.
Samson, who joined the company in 2000, dressed in a red gown and limping, caused by the injury she sustained from the crash, said the carrier omitted her name and then started paying the 30 per cent insurance to the families of the deceased. She stated that she called the spokesman to the airline, Alex Emode, about her plight, adding that he suggested she should get a lawyer, noting that the complaint they had against her was that she granted an interview to the Accident Investigation Bureau after she returned from South Africa. Samson said: “I told AIB nothing but the truth about the crash.
“In fairness to the crew and passengers that died, I don’t need to hide anything from AIB. “My personal effect, recovered from the wreckage, has not been given back to me and it has been returned to Associated Airline by AIB.” Emode said that the airline would hold a press briefing today to address the matter, to let the public know the true position of the matter.
Samson disclosed that her lawyer wrote a letter to the company and copied the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, adding that no reply was gotten from the airline, with NCAA saying it was working assiduously with the airline in ensuring that all the families of the victims, both deceased and survivors, were fully compensated without further delay. Samson said:“To my surprise, Mr. Alex Emode told my lawyer on phone that I’m not a staff of Associated Aviation. “I now asked him to tell me what I was doing onboard if I was not a staff of the airline.
“Is it a crime to survive an air crash? “If I had died in the crash, would they have told my family that I am not their staff?” Samson said that Emode told a journalist that she went on shopping spree in South Africa.
She said: “I was furious and asked him if he gave me any money for the shopping in South Africa. “All the money that was given to me by my family members and good Nigerians while I was on my hospital bed, were given to Mr. Alex in South Africa when he said that we have to cater for the accommodation and feeding of any family member accompanying us to South Africa.”
She stated that she has not been collecting salary since 2012. Samson added: “So, where will I get money to go on shopping spree as he claimed? “Different false accusations because they don’t want to compensate me. “He said that according to Geneva law, an obsolete law, I’m not going to be compensated because I am alive and I did not suffer any loss or permanent injury, that I will only be compensated on compassionate ground, if possible.”
Samson disclosed amid tears that she had been advised by her doctor to desist from any hectic job, adding that she can no longer function as a cabin crew because she now lacks the physical and mental requirement needed. She said: “My mobility is slow. “I cannot stand for a long time, which disqualifies me for yearly medical/ditching/ evacuation exercise before my crew licence can be renewed. “The indelible scars, burns behind my right arm are scary to behold. “The psychological trauma I’m suffering now is as a result of the crash. “I now have fear of aircraft during take-off. “All these were not happening to me before the crash. “I was very active. “I walked straight. “I do not limp, neither was I afraid of flight. “The incident happened over nine months ago and the company has not done anything to take care of me. “They neglected and humiliated me.” Touched by her predicament, the Chairman of the occasion, Captain Brikemi Porbeni, faulted the NCAA for not doing what it was expected to do in aircraft and aviation regulations.