Why Buhari’s Remains Were Placed In Cabin, Not Cargo Hold

The body of the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari, was flown to  Nigeria in the main cabin of a Nigerian Air Force jet as opposed to the usual practice of placing caskets in an aircraft’s cargo.

According to Punch, the casket was placed in the cabin because it could not fit into the aircraft’s cargo compartment.

Rather than resorting to a body bag that would fit into the hold, handlers resolved to transport the casket in the aircraft’s cabin.

To achieve this, the front seats in the cabin were collapsed, and tables unfolded to create a bed-like platform on which the casket could be securely and respectfully laid.

A source told the aforementioned publication, “You would have noticed that the remains of the former President were not in the cargo hold, as is the standard procedure, but in the main cabin.

“The corpse was brought in a casket draped with the Nigerian flag. However, it could not fit into the aircraft’s hold, which isn’t designed for such items, and the British airport authorities wouldn’t budge due to safety concerns.

“So, to avoid using a body bag, it took considerable time and persuasion to properly wrap the remains and drape them in the national flag. The front seats were then collapsed, and the tables unfolded to create a bed-like space for the remains to be tied down.

“As a mark of honour, a joint team of nine senior military officials served as pallbearers, laying the flag-draped casket on a trolley.