Saudi Arabia has revoked visas for all 264 passengers on Air Peace’s flight from Nigeria to Jeddah, instructing the airline to return them.
This is despite advanced screening before departure according to investigation, the visas were canceled upon landing, raising speculation about discouraging the airline’s operations.
The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Sunday night and arrived Saudi Arabia’s major city today without issues but on landing, the Saudi Arabia authorities announced that all the passengers visas were cancelled.
The Nigerian embassy was reported to have intervened, reducing the number of deportees to 170.
According to reports, those deported are currently on their way back to Nigeria.
Industry experts, including Group Captain John Ojikutu, urged swift government intervention to protect the airline’s rights under the Bilateral Air Service Agreement.