The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to prosecute a female passenger who disrupted an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Abuja, forcing the cancellation of the flight. The incident occurred on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumers’ Protection, Michael Achimugu, disclosed that the passenger’s unruly behavior delayed the flight until the airport’s airspace was closed. According to Achimugu, the woman refused to allow the flight to depart after discovering that her luggage was not among those loaded on the aircraft.
Reports revealed that prior to boarding, passengers had been informed about weight restrictions and the possibility of some luggage arriving on subsequent flights.
Passengers with luggage over 20kg reportedly signed indemnity forms, while others were verbally informed of the situation, including the disruptive passenger. However, upon realizing her bag had been excluded, the passenger demanded that her luggage be loaded immediately, ignoring appeals and offers from the pilot and airport security personnel.
The delayed departure caused the flight to be canceled as Uyo airport operates only during daylight hours. The cancellation left 89 passengers, including an infant and individuals with critical appointments, stranded. Among them was a passenger who missed her British Airways connection and a chef traveling to fulfill a major client engagement in Abuja.
A video shared on social media by the NCAA showed the chaotic scene, with frustrated passengers attempting to confront the disruptive individual. Security personnel from Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Ibom Air were on hand to prevent an escalation, but the passenger was nearly assaulted by angry travelers before being escorted out.
The airline, forced to cancel the flight, provided refreshments, transportation, and hotel accommodations for affected passengers at significant cost. Achimugu noted that the disruption not only caused financial losses but also disrupted the airline’s scheduling, a challenge that would take days to resolve.
“This incident underscores the need for passengers to respect aviation protocols. The passenger will be prosecuted for her actions, as holding a plane hostage is a severe offense under aviation regulations,” Achimugu said. He added that such behavior could be classified as terrorism, depending on its severity, as determined by law enforcement.
Achimugu reaffirmed that airlines are permitted to short-land baggage during festive seasons when passengers tend to carry more luggage. He urged stakeholders to abide by regulations to avoid similar incidents in the future.
The NCAA emphasized that no provocation justifies violent or disruptive behavior at airports, stressing the importance of cooperation between passengers and aviation authorities to ensure smooth operations.
