The following is a statement from RwandAir on the unpleasant situation at Abidjan International Airport where flight number WB314 bound for Kigali from Abuja Nigeria made a stopover.

Contrary to what has been widely circulated on the Internet, flight number WB 314 landed at Abidjan International Airport at 1400HRS (Local Time Abidjan) where a team of senior Rwanda Government officials disembarked for an official state visit. Owing to the nature of the delegation, the aircraft was directed to a private military apron for swift handling and quick turn around.
The Rwanda government officials were efficiently and professionally received by the Ivorian team on ground and ushered to the lounge while other Kigali bound passengers remained on board.

The two key requirements for the turn around were fueling services and ground handling services. Both suppliers required cash payment regardless of RwandAir’s prior contractual arrangements with a local company on ground. The team in charge of the apron where RwandAir aircraft was parked did not have any prior information from the local handling company in Abidjan on the same. This expected confirmation from the ground handling company, delayed to reach the apron staff in good time.

This in turn delayed the handling and fueling process. Once all was cleared with the handling agent in Abidjan, fueling and other handling aspects were completed and the aircraft left for Kigali with a one-hour delay on top of the planned two hours on ground.

The photo used alongside the story posted online does not depict the image of the of the soldiers on ground at Abidjan Airport nor does the article give a balanced account of what transpired. The armed soldiers on ground at Abidjan airport were part of the security detail put in place to receive and ensure safety for the aircraft, its passengers and the visiting state delegation.

We would like to assure all that at no time whatsoever were the lives of the passengers, RwandAir crew or staff in any danger. Further, RwandAir flight crews were well within duty time limit with hours to spare.

RwandAir would like to reaffirm its commitment to upholding the highest security and safety standards in its operations and would like to reassure its esteemed customers, the public of continued reliable and safe operations.