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Drama as flight passenger, air hostess clash in Lagos

NCAA issues warning after unruly Ibom Air passenger 'attacked' crew

Days after a spat at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport involving veteran Fuji star Wasiu Ayinde, fresh drama erupted at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport.

Videos circulating on X show an irate female passenger attacking a flight attendant aboard an Ibom Air aircraft and clashing with airport security personnel.

The clips, posted on Sunday, drew attention from social media users who noted that the passenger had been on the Uyo-to-Lagos flight earlier that day.

In one clip, filmed onboard, the visibly furious passenger slips her missing wig back on, then prods a flight attendant’s head with her finger while shouting, “What did you do?”

“She is hitting me,” the attendant responds calmly.

In another clip, now off the plane, the passenger is seen screaming at airport security, swatting away cameras, and lunging at those trying to restrain her.

Her voice, barely audible over the commotion, carries a mix of fury and frustration. Her shirt is also visibly torn.

Witnesses filming alleged she had earlier slapped a crew member.

Moments later, security officials overpowered her and bundled her into a waiting airport bus.

The cause of the passenger’s outburst remains unclear, but the director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, said it stemmed from her refusal to follow flight protocols.

“When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff/landing, simply comply. I can’t understand why simple routine issues would lead to incidents like this,” he tweeted in response to the videos.

“Passengers need to understand that they have responsibilities, not just rights.”

Achimugu added that the matter would be addressed on Monday as more details emerge.

On August 5, the NCAA suspended two ValueJet pilots over a safety breach at Abuja airport’s domestic terminal, a case linked to KWAM 1’s disorderly conduct.

The NCAA also imposed an indefinite travel ban on the celebrity—upgraded from an initial six-month ban—pending the outcome of investigations into the airport altercation.