Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Reports Disruption of Ibom Air Flight Due to Unruly Passenger
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reported a significant disruption involving an Ibom Air flight that was scheduled to depart from Uyo to Abuja at 17:30 last Wednesday.
The incident was caused by an unruly passenger whose behavior had serious repercussions for both the airline and the 89 other passengers on board. Mr. Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, expressed concern over how the passenger's actions not only wasted valuable time but also caused financial losses and missed opportunities for her fellow travelers.
He took to his X account to highlight the incident, detailing the circumstances that led to the flight's cancellation. Before boarding, all passengers were informed during check-in about potential luggage issues due to weight restrictions, with the understanding that some or all of their luggage might not arrive on the same flight. Passengers with luggage exceeding 20 kg signed indemnity forms, while those with bags around that weight were verbally notified that their luggage would follow on a subsequent flight. The unruly passenger accepted these terms, along with the others. However, after boarding the aircraft, the passenger realized her bag was not among the luggage loaded onto the plane. In a fit of anger, she exited the aircraft and demanded that her bag be loaded, threatening that no one would fly unless her luggage was included.
Despite the intervention of FAAN AVSEC and the pilot, who offered to accommodate her checked bag in the cabin (which ultimately did not fit), she refused to relent. The pilot was acutely aware of the time constraints, as Uyo is a sunset airport, and the airspace would soon be closed. AVSEC personnel explained to the disruptive passenger that she would need to disembark if she insisted on traveling with her bag. In an attempt to retrieve her handbag from the cabin, she blocked the aisle, insisting that the flight would not depart without her luggage. Among the other passengers was an infant and a chef traveling to provide services to a major client in Abuja.
Despite numerous appeals, the passenger's refusal to comply led to the closure of airspace, forcing the pilot to announce the cancellation of the flight. At that moment, frustration among the remaining passengers reached a boiling point. Achimugu noted that had the AVSEC and Ibom Air personnel, led by Amaka Echetabu, not acted swiftly and effectively, the situation could have escalated to violence against the unruly passenger. In his statement, Achimugu commended the timely intervention that ultimately safeguarded the passenger's well-being. However, the airline faced significant repercussions, including the cost of providing immediate refreshments, transportation for local passengers, and hotel accommodations for those traveling from outside Uyo.
This situation necessitated double arrangements for the same flight, compounding the financial strain on the airline, which operates in an industry characterized by thin profit margins. Furthermore, the incident has created scheduling challenges that will take several days to resolve, making it a highly avoidable occurrence in the aviation sector.
