67-YEAR OLD NIGERIAN MAN FOUND DEAD ON UNITED AIRLINE FLIGHT The airline did not give details of how the Nigerian died, but said the deceased was found on its flight 143 on arrival Monday. United Airlines said it is assisting the passenger’s family with their needs. In an electronic mail to newsmen, United Airlines said: “Medical personnel in Houston met United flight 143 from Lagos, Nigeria upon arrival Monday due to a deceased passenger on board. We are assisting the passenger’s family with their needs.” Meanwhile, investigations revealed that Houston police personnel are awaiting autopsy results on the deceased. The male passenger, aged 67 died on board a United Airlines flight. According to HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officer, M. Miller, patrol officers responded to a deceased male who was on board the United Airlines flight #143 arriving from Lagos, Nigeria. Miller said: “Further investigation revealed that Mr. Igwedike passed away shortly after the flight departed from Nigeria. “The flight was then rerouted to Dakar, Senegal. After refuelling, authorities in Senegal rerouted the flight to Houston.” The investigation is pending Igwedike’s cause of death, says Miller. The normal time for the direct flight between Lagos and Houston, Texas is about 13 hours but the plane was diverted to the capital of Senegal ostensibly to administer further medical treatment on late Igwedike. Nigerian aviation authorities are collaborating with the airline to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of the passenger.