A recently released book by former Special Adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has brought to light a chilling incident involving the former president, revealing that his plane narrowly escaped a crash in November 2015, merely six months into his presidency. 

The book, titled ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),’ authored by Femi Adesina, recounts the harrowing experience during Buhari’s journey to the Island of Malta for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Describing the incident, the book details the severe turbulence and buffeting encountered by the presidential plane as it approached Malta. 

The Boeing 737 business jet exhibited alarming movements, and upon landing, it swayed and gyrated like a ship in a storm, almost turning over. In the aftermath of this frightening experience, President Buhari reportedly queried the pilot, asking, “What kind of landing is this?”

In response, the pilot, evidently shaken by the ordeal, immediately apologized to President Buhari and the other distressed passengers. The pilot explained, “We have just experienced what is called wind shear, a sudden change in the direction of the wind. Apologies Mr. President, and distinguished passengers.”

The book, in its Chapter 21 titled “Over 50 foreign trips… and a health scare,” provides a detailed account of President Buhari’s extensive foreign travels during his eight-year tenure. It lists a total of 94 countries officially visited by the former president. 

Notably, 2016 recorded the highest number of trips, with 19, followed by 18 trips in 2022 and 12 trips in 2018.