Air France And British Airways Deboard Unruly Passenger At Abuja Airport (Video)

Michael Achimugu is the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Auhority.

Michael Achimugu @mikeachimugu01

Yesterday, Air France deboarded an unruly passenger at the Abuja International Airport. His disruptive behaviour in the aircraft was a safety risk for other passengers.

Since he did not possess a Nigerian visa, he was not allowed into Abuja. Being a French national, he was visited by staff of the French Embassy and a doctor and then granted accommodation in the hotel within the airport terminal.

Later, British Airways deboarded him due to the same unruly behaviour he had put up aboard Air France.

Today, he was supposed to depart via Asky but could not present evidence of payment for the e-‘ticket’ he presented. The airline declined to airlift him.

Immigration officials had quite a hectic time handling the erratic passenger who can be seen littering our clean terminal with what seems to be tissue paper and screaming, “My passport, my passport.”

Apparently, the Immigration officers wanted to ensure that he boarded his flight before handing the passenger his international passport to prevent him from escaping through the exit gate and into the city.

NCAA Consumer Protection regional head, Miriam Anosike, understanding the security, safety, and diplomatic ramifications of the case, addressed Air France personnel sternly, reminding them that they brought the passenger to Nigeria and must be responsible for airlifting him out of Nigeria as he is becoming a liability to the country.

“If you are afraid to airlift him, why do you expect other airlines to be responsible for him? Get him a ticket and move him tomorrow!”

I salute Miriam, whose years of experience as CPO came in handy. Tomorrow night, we will monitor Air France operations to ensure that the passenger is safely airlifted.

Kudos to the men of the NIS who also kept their cool all through.