News

News

Flight for survival ends in death
By N. Dilshath Banu
Passengers aboard the Saudi Air Boeing 747 were ready to take off from the BIA to Jeddah, last Thursday when tragedy struck. In the stampede that ensued following a bomb-hoax on the flight, many were injured and among them was 45-year-old Samsun Nazeema who was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

A mother of six, Nazeema had gone to Saudi Arabia for employment about eight years ago. She had worked under several employers and had recently come back to Sri Lanka after her final work contract had ended. But her stay here was short lived and it was poverty that saw her once again on that fateful flight on Thursday.

Two of Nazeema’s daughters were married but her husband was unemployed and they were still finding it difficult to make ends meet and Nazeema was determined to go back to work as a housemaid.

This time Nazeema was going to Saudi Arabia through Al-Atheeq Manpower job agency. She had been offered a salary of 650 Riyal (Rs. 13,000) for a housemaid job in Saudi Arabia and she got her visa on August 19. She had to put off her flight for September 8 for various reasons.

S.D.M. Niyas, the proprietor of Al-Atheeq Manpower, said that after one of his sub agents identified the victim through the details on the passport, he had informed the Sri Lanka Bureau for Foreign Employment was informed.
After the post- modem, Nazeema’s body was handed over to her family in Bibile.

SLBFE, chief Chandrani Senaratne said that the Bureau would pay compensation to the bereaved family and they would be meeting the funeral expenses too.

Relating the horrific incident, Tuan Anisoon Mahill who is recovering at Negombo hospital said, “I heard the announcement saying that flight was getting delayed. I closed my eyes and thought I would have a small nap.
“There was another announcement in Arabic, and after that every one started running towards the emergency exit. I didn’t know what was happening. But I panicked and jumped out of the emergency door.”

Mudalige Yasasiri, a transit passenger on his way to Italy said just five minutes before take off all hell broke loose. “Following the announcement of the flight delay, there was another announcement in Arabic and everyone started running. Suddenly, I was pushed by passengers who were running towards the emergency exit. Some people fell on me and the next moment I was in an ambulance on my way to hospital. It was there I was told what had happened,” he said.

Top

Back to News