Azman Air sends A340 to evacuate Nigerians from Ukraine

The Nigerian carrier Azman Air held a rescue operation onboard an Airbus A340-600 airlifting hundreds of stranded Nigerian students, taking them away from Ukraine as Russia’s invasion continues. Let’s investigate further.

An Azman Air’s Airbus A340-600 departed from Budapest International Airport, carrying hundreds of Nigerian citizens fleeing the war in Ukraine. The aircraft landed at the international wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja at precisely 8:41 pm, local time, according to the airline. This was the fifth humanitarian flight held by Nigerian airlines. Previously Air Peace and Max Air operated three and one services, respectively.

Over 1,000 Nigerian citizens have fled Ukraine in the last few days as Russia invades its neighbor. Many of the stranded Nigerians ended in Poland and Hungary and quickly started looking for a way to fly back home.

Since then, the Federal Government of Nigeria has begun several humanitarian flights evacuating up to 1,076 Nigerians, according to reports by local media outlets. One of those flights was operated by Azman Air, a Nigerian carrier based in Kano.

Azman Air employed its Airbus A340-600, registration 5N-AAM, to operate the humanitarian services. In a statement posted on social media, the airline said, “BREAKING NEWS!! It has been confirmed that Azman Air Airbus A340-600 will be departing Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to Budapest, Hungary to Evacuate Nigerians that reported at the Hungarian Embassy due to the Russia-Ukraine Crisis.”

On Saturday morning, at around 2:49 am, local time, the Azman Air crew departed from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (where the aircraft was stored) en route to Budapest, Hungary.

The aircraft (with a capacity for 409 seats) landed at the Hungarian capital at 7:59 am, local time. A few hours later, Azman Air’s aircraft left Hungary with 310 students onboard. “It is a pleasure to be of great service to Nigerians abroad,” said Azman Air.

It is expected that the Nigerian airlines operating these humanitarian flights evacuate over 2,000 citizens, mostly students, from Ukraine.

The Nigerian airlines’ Air Peace and Max Air have also been involved in the rescue flights from Eastern Europe.

Prior to Azman Air’s evacuation flight, the Nigerian government and these two airlines held four operations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On March 4, Max Air evacuated 415 people from Bucharest, Romania, employing one of its three Boeing 747-400 for the service.

That same day, Air Peace operated two rescue flights. It employed an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 777-300 to rescue a total of 355 people.

One day later, Air Peace sent a Boeing 777-300 and evacuated an additional 306 people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Air Peace has two Boeing 777-300, registrations 5N-BUU and 5N-BWI.

Nonetheless, deploying its Boeing 777 into Europe led Air Peace to have flight delays on March 6. The airline issued a statement addressing the subject, “Air Peace was said to have delayed its Jo’burg service (March 6) for six hours, and it is important we clear the air. The aircraft scheduled to operate the Jo’burg flight, a Boeing 777, was delayed in Budapest, Hungary, where it airlifted Nigerians who were stranded as a result of the Ukraine crisis. Some of the Nigerians reported late at the airport.”

Simple Flying