The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed that a female passenger who obstructed an Abuja-bound Ibom Air flight has been charged to court, with authorities vowing to ensure she faces the full weight of the law.
Speaking on Monday, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, disclosed that the passenger, described as unruly, had been detained by the police for two nights before being charged. “The NCAA continues to educate stakeholders about unruly behavior and the penalties it attracts,” he said.
Achimugu emphasized that aviation regulations strictly prohibit violent disruptions, stating, “No provocation justifies violence at the airport. Acts such as obstructing the movement of an aircraft can be interpreted as terrorism, depending on the severity, as determined by the police.”
Addressing delays in handling the situation, he acknowledged procedural lapses and called for improvements in managing such incidents. “I intend to hold a meeting with Avsec and FAAN because there seems to be room for improvement in the protocols for handling unruly passengers. This incident was preventable, very preventable, but no excuses justify the passenger’s actions, which is why she will face the full wrath of the law,” he added.
The incident stemmed from the airline’s policy on excess luggage. Ibom Air had informed passengers that bags exceeding 20kg would be transported on a subsequent flight. While most passengers accepted this arrangement, the unnamed passenger became irate upon discovering her bag had not been loaded onto the flight.
The woman reportedly disembarked and demanded that her luggage be loaded immediately, threatening to stop the aircraft from departing. Despite repeated pleas, she held the flight to ransom until the airport was forced to close, leading to the cancellation of the flight.
Achimugu confirmed that legal action has been initiated to address the disruption, underscoring the NCAA’s commitment to maintaining order in aviation operations.
