The 31-year-old Mikel Obi who joined Championship side Middlesbrough on a short term deal was reportedly at risk of a plane crash just after their game against Newport County in the FA Cup replay played on Tuesday, February 5.

According to Footballlive reports that Mikel was among the Middlesbrough players. The officials of the English Championship club called off a flight that would have taken the squad for their next league fixture. If the fault had not been detected, Mikel and his teammates could have suffered a mishap while on air which could have cost the lives of players and officials of Middlesbrough. NAIJACRAWl recall that the football world is still in mourning following missing flight saga involving Cardiff City signing, Emiliano Sala.

Mikel and other members were forced to about-turn on the Cardiff Airport runway, following their 2-0 FA Cup defeat to League Two, Newport County. They then re-boarded the team bus and returned to Middlesbrough by road, meaning the team did not return until 7am, with the players having to sleep on the way home. Middlesbrough and Mikel have not made an official statement about the possible tragic event.