How female passenger narrowly escaped lynching after grounding Abuja-bound flight

A passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Abuja is set to face legal action after causing the cancellation of the flight, leaving numerous passengers stranded.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, involved a female passenger who disrupted the flight scheduled to depart at 5:30 pm.

Reports indicate that passengers were informed beforehand about weight restrictions, which meant some luggage would be transported on subsequent flights.

Travellers with bags exceeding 20kg had signed indemnity forms, while others with lighter luggage were verbally informed and agreed to the arrangement.

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However, after boarding, the woman discovered her bag was not among those loaded onto the aircraft. Upset, she disembarked and refused to allow the flight to proceed unless her bag was loaded. Despite efforts by the airline’s Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and the pilot—who even offered to carry her bag in the cabin if not for its size—the passenger remained adamant.

The standoff delayed the flight until the airspace in Uyo, which is a sunset airport, was closed, forcing a cancellation.

A video shared by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) showed other passengers reacting angrily to the disruption, with some attempting to lynch her before security intervened. One passenger mentioned missing her British Airways flight due to the delay.

Sources suggest the woman’s actions were driven by a prior experience in December when her luggage was delayed, and she wanted to avoid a repeat.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, confirmed the incident, stating:
“Despite all pleas, she held the plane hostage until the airspace was closed. Consequently, the pilot had to announce a cancellation of the flight. It was at that moment that other passengers became irate. Had AVSEC and Ibom Air personnel not been on top of their game, the unruly passenger would have been lynched. I salute the timely intervention that saved her life.”

The airline reportedly incurred significant costs, providing refreshments, transportation for local passengers, and hotel accommodations for travelers from out of town. Achimugu added:

“This means the airline had to cater twice for the same flight. Additionally, the disruption created a scheduling challenge that will take days to resolve. For an industry with thin profit margins, this was entirely avoidable.”

Achimugu also noted that the NCAA permits airlines to implement weight restrictions during festive seasons when passengers typically carry more luggage, emphasizing that such policies align with regulations.

The passenger will be prosecuted, as confirmed by Achimugu, who also warned of severe penalties for unruly behavior. He stated:

“The regulations state firmly that no provocation justifies violence at the airport. Certain acts, especially holding up the movement of an aircraft through means of violence, could be interpreted as terrorism depending on the severity (to be determined by the police).”