‘I cheated death six months into my administration’, ex-president Buhari explains

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has explained how he cheated death along with his aides after his presidential jet nearly crashed six months after being sworn in as the leader of Africa’s most populous nation

Buhari disclosed this in a new book released in Abuja on Tuesday by his former spokesperson, Femi Adesina.

In the book ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023)’, written by Femi Adesina, the former president was en route to Malta for a conference of Commonwealth Heads of Government when the aircraft experienced terrifying turbulence that lasted for an extended period.

The turbulence, according to the report, was so severe that when the plane eventually landed in Malta, a deeply terrified President Buhari queried the pilot: “What kind of landing is this?” and the pilot had to tender an apology to the President and the other troubled passengers.

The report, according to Daily Post, explained that the turbulence was so bad that President Buhari asked the pilot, “What kind of landing is this?” when the plane finally touched down in Malta. Buhari was reportedly very nervous and the pilot was forced to apologize to the President as well as the other aides who were disturbed by the frightening situation

The report said: “A presidential jet is not immune from bad weather and the accompanying turbulence (many hours of that we experienced). Neither is it spared from what aviators call wind shear (a sudden change in the direction of the wind). We had a frightful experience).

“In November 2015, we had travelled to Malta to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and it was an uneventful flight till the flight crew announced that we should get ready for landing.

“Few seconds from touching the tarmac, the Boeing 737 business jet got buffeted from all sides and began to sway dangerously. On touching down, it pirouetted and gyrated like a drunken sailor; and was almost turning over.

“What kind of landing is this?”, Buhari is reported to have queried the frightened pilot, who immediately apologized to the then president.

“We have just experienced what is called wind shear, a sudden change in the direction of wind. Apologies Mr. President, and distinguished passengers,” the scared pilot replied Buhari on touching down safely.

In Chapter 21 of the new book with the caption: “Over 50 foreign trips… and a health scare”, the book lists 94 countries which Buhari visited officially during his eight-year tenure with the highest being 19 trips in 2016, 18 in 2022, 16 in 2015 and 12 in 2018.