“No Provocation Justifies Violence At Airports” — NCAA Confirms Legal Action Against Passenger Who Obstructed Abuja-Bound Flight
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed the prosecution of an unnamed female passenger who obstructed an Abuja-bound Ibom Air flight, causing its cancellation. The authority has vowed that the passenger will face the full weight of the law for her actions.
According to the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the incident stemmed from the passenger’s outrage over her overweight luggage being excluded from the flight. Speaking on Monday, Achimugu disclosed that the passenger was detained for two nights by the police and has since been charged to court, though she was granted bail.
Achimugu emphasised the seriousness of the passenger’s actions, stating:
“Regulations state firmly that no provocation justifies violence at the airport. Acts like holding up the movement of an aircraft through violent means could, depending on the severity, be interpreted as terrorism. The passenger has been charged to court, and the legal process will determine the outcome.”
Reports indicate that Ibom Air had informed passengers that luggage exceeding 20kg would not be transported on the same flight but would instead arrive on a subsequent flight. While most passengers complied with this policy, the woman became irate upon realising her bag had not been loaded onto the aircraft.
In protest, the passenger disembarked and demanded her luggage be loaded immediately. Despite efforts by the airline staff and fellow passengers to calm her, she refused to relent, threatening to prevent the aircraft from taking off. Her actions eventually forced the airline to cancel the flight as the airport closed operations for the day.
Addressing the incident, Achimugu acknowledged gaps in the protocols for managing unruly passengers, stating:
“I intend to hold a meeting with Avsec and FAAN because there seems to be room for improvement in handling situations like this. The response should have been quicker, and the action should have been faster. This incident was preventable, but no point excuses the woman’s behaviour.”
The NCAA reaffirmed its commitment to educating stakeholders about unruly behaviour and its consequences. Achimugu stated:
“This incident underscores the need for stricter adherence to regulations. We continue to stress that airports are sensitive spaces where all parties must abide by the rules to ensure safety and order.”