N.A.C. pilots not held in Nigeria

Press, 18 October 1976, Page 1

N.A.C. pilots not held in Nigeria

Reports that a crew of six National Airways Corporation pilots had been held against their will in Nigeria were denied by the leader of the group, Captain W. T. Anderson, on his return to Christchurch yesterday. Captain Anderson, whose crew was assigned to fly a Boeing 737 jet leased by N.A.C. to Nigerian Airways, said rumours that the crew was being held under house arrest had arisen when their passports were confiscated by the Nigerian Government. “The Nigerian Government took our passports when we arrived and applied for visas,” he said. “During the four or five weeks they held our passports, we were virtually unable to leave the country.”

However, the delay was a result of disorganisation rather than harassment, said Captain Anderson. “We were never confined to quarters. Our movement was restricted in some ways, but we had more mobility than the civilians,” Part of the confusion was because a new military regime had seized power just before their arrival, he said. A lack of facilities had been the main problem at Nigerian airports. “They had no radar, and only two of the airports, Kano and Lagos, had lights for night flying,” he said. In spite of this, the jet had been maintained in good condition by a team of Aer Lingus mechanics. The only damage to the plane was minor dents caused by collisions with vultures on the runway. “We had some trouble getting replacement parts, but that can happen anywhere, said Captain Anderson. “It was never enough

of a problem to keep the plane on the ground.” Captain Anderson said there had been some discontent among the crew, particularly upon their arrival, about the living facilities. This had not been the reason for his return after serving only three months of a ninemonth contract, he said. “I came back because I am a family man, and because Nigeria is a very hot country,” he said. “Three minutes was long enough. But the letters I have had from the crew since leaving indicate that they are happy there.” Although the aircraft was sold to an American finance company last week at a price of more than S7M, N.A.C. will continue to provide crew on the plane until April, 1977, when the lease to Nigerian Airways expires. To replace it, Captain Anderson said the Nigerian Airline had bought a DCIO and three Fokker F-28s.