By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
A Gambian resident of Sweden has threatened Turkish Airlines with a multi-million dalasi lawsuit after the carrier failed to fly him to Sweden, putting his residency permit, livelihood and healthcare at risk.
Muhammed Lamin Komma, from Manna in the Central River Region, has instructed Kasumai Law Chambers and Associates to demand compensation from the airline’s country manager.
In a formal letter dated 23 July 2026, the firm claims Turkish Airlines breached its contract by canceling a flight that was supposed to take Komma from Banjul to Sweden.
Komma holds a Swedish residency permit that was due to expire on 23 July 2026. He needed to be physically present in Sweden by that date to renew it and protect his job, container shipping business, right to live and work in the country, and access to specialized healthcare. He has a documented medical history requiring regular check-ups after sustaining severe injuries in two separate motor vehicle accidents.
According to the letter, Komma bought a Turkish Airlines ticket worth USD $744.40 for a flight scheduled to leave Banjul International Airport at 06:45 on 22 July 2026. He checked in at 03:00 and boarded at 05:00. After the scheduled departure time, passengers were told of technical problems.
Further announcements at 08:02 and 10:00 confirmed the issues persisted. Passengers were eventually ordered to disembark for breakfast. When the technical failure could not be fixed, Komma was taken to Tamala Hotel around midday.
From that point onward, the law firm alleges, Turkish Airlines provided no status updates or alternative travel arrangements. As a result, Komma could not reach Sweden before his permit expired.
Kasumai Law Chambers is demanding immediate payment of the full ticket cost of USD $744.40, plus D50 million for anticipated loss of earnings, business and residency status, and a further D30 million for loss of healthcare coverage and medical risks. Additional claims include D10,000 for the formal demand letter and D2,500 in legal consultation fees.
“Our Client is a resident of Sweden whose Swedish Residency Permit is due to expire on 23 July 2026,” the letter states. “This failure exposes our Client to catastrophic personal, medical, and financial losses.” It warns that if the demands are not met within seven days of receipt, full legal proceedings will be launched in a competent court without further notice.
Lawyer Abdoulie Jare signs the letter on behalf of the chambers. Turkish Airlines had not issued a public response at the time of writing.
