Gambia’s football team narrowly avoided disaster as they flew to the Africa Cup of Nations as they came ‘within half an hour of death’ after the cabin’s oxygen supply failed.
The team and coaching staff were on a flight from the capital Banjul en route to Ivory Coast for the tournament when several players fainted shortly after boarding the plane.
Just nine minutes after take-off, the pilot was forced to return to Banjul airport for an emergency landing, with oxygen supplies on board running low.
Former Manchester United player Saidy Janko said in an Instagram post that some on board suffered “strong headaches and extreme dizziness.”
Janko, who posted a video of the team disembarking from the plane, slammed his country’s association for the “unacceptable” situation.
The Gambian team heading to the Africa Cup of Nations narrowly avoided disaster after their plane’s oxygen supply failed, forcing them to make an emergency landing
A video posted by former Manchester United player Saidy Janko on Instagram showed the team leaving the plane as soon as it returned to Banjul Airport and catching their breath on the tarmac
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This was said by the Belgian coach of Gambia, Tom Saintfiet Newspaper: ‘We could all have been dead. We all fell asleep quickly. Me, too. I had short dreams about what my life was like. Real and true.
‘After nine minutes the pilot decided to return because there was no oxygen supply. Some players only woke up (immediately) after landing.
‘We almost got carbon monoxide poisoning. Another half hour of flying and we would all have been dead.’
Janko, 28, wrote on Instagram: ‘Unacceptable. After traveling a total of 32 hours from Saudi Arabia (Training Camp) to Gambia with long layovers in Istanbul and Casablanca, today we would fly from Gambia to Ivory Coast for the AFCON.
“As soon as we entered the small plane hired to fly us, we noticed the intense heat that made us sweat.
“The crew assured us that the air conditioning would start as soon as we were in the air.
‘The inhuman heat, combined with the resulting lack of oxygen, caused many people to suffer severe headaches and extreme dizziness.
‘Moreover, people fell deeply asleep a few minutes after entering/deboarding the plane.
Gambia team coach Tom Saintfiet said he had dreams about how his life would be over
Janko, now with Young Boys in Switzerland, said some teammates suffered from ‘strong headaches and extreme dizziness’
Janko was at Manchester United during his early career, making one appearance in the League Cup
Janko called the situation ‘unacceptable’ in an Instagram post after the incident
‘While in the air, the situation worsened, leaving the pilot with no choice but to make an emergency landing at Banjul airport nine minutes after take-off. Which happened successfully.
‘If this had not been the case, the consequences could have been much worse!!! Knowing what could have happened if we had been exposed to the situation any longer – on a plane, without oxygen…
The team was seen back at Banjul airport waiting for a new flight
“We are grateful that everyone is feeling well, but this is a situation that must be addressed when we go to the AFCON because it is just one of our obstacles in terms of international duties.
“This is unacceptable and must stop immediately.”
In his interview with Nieuwsblad, coach Saintfiet said that the team must travel to Ivory Coast on Thursday, otherwise they risk being kicked out of the tournament. Their first match is against Senegal on Monday.
‘We are now in Gambia and don’t want to fly with such an airplane anymore. That might have been the smallest they could find, with propellers, for 50 people,” he said.
‘As if all that mattered was that he flew. There are limits, I’m willing to die on the football field, I’m not willing to die for my job off the field.”
Janko’s video showed a propeller plane with Air Cote d’Ivoire on the side. The flight time to Abidjan is approximately 2.5 hours.
Gambia will also face Cameroon and Guinea in Group C at the AFCON.
Janko, 28, spent part of his early career at Old Trafford and made one appearance – in the 4-0 League Cup defeat to MK Dons in 2014.
A statement from the Gambian Football Federation read: ‘The chartered flight carrying the Scorpions to the African Cup of Nations has returned to Banjul due to technical problems. The flight lasted nine minutes in the air when the crew realized it and immediately requested to return to Banjul.
‘During landing, preliminary investigation showed that there was a loss of cabin pressure and oxygen.
‘However, the technical team from the flight’s operator, Air Cote d’Ivoire, is further assessing the situation to determine what is causing the lack of oxygen and cabin pressure.
“In this regard, the team, including players and staff, are now en route to their base at the Ocean Bay Hotel, awaiting further instructions.
“It is important to note that every member of the delegation is safe and in good health.”
It came after the Gambian squad refused to train on Tuesday over unpaid bonuses they say are owed to them.
This left the fans disappointed during the open training in Bakau, but the matter was eventually resolved.