Inside The Flight: Why Buhari’s Corpse Was Given Unusual Cabin Honour

The body of the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari, was transported to Nigeria in the main cabin of a Nigerian Air Force jet, diverging from the standard procedure of placing caskets in the aircraft’s cargo hold.

According to Punch, the decision was made because the casket could not fit into the cargo compartment of the aircraft.

Instead of using a body bag that would have fit the hold, officials opted to transport the casket in the cabin. To accommodate it, the front seats were collapsed, and foldable tables were arranged to create a bed-like platform where the casket could be respectfully and securely laid.

A source told the newspaper, “You might have noticed the remains of the former President were placed in the cabin rather than the cargo hold, which is the norm.”

“The casket, wrapped in the Nigerian flag, could not be accommodated in the aircraft’s hold, which isn’t built for such cargo. British airport authorities also raised safety concerns, making the use of the hold unfeasible.”

“To avoid using a body bag, officials spent considerable time preparing the remains, carefully wrapping and draping them in the national flag. The front cabin area was reconfigured to provide a proper resting space.”

As a mark of respect and national honour, a joint team of nine senior military officers acted as pallbearers, carefully placing the flag-draped casket on a trolley during the process.