Unruly Air France’s passenger abandon at Abuja airport
Abdullateef Fowewe
An unruly French citizen whose name wasn’t revealed was reportedly deboarded by Air France at Abuja Airport on Wednesday after causing security and diplomatic concerns at the aerodrome.
The French national was said to have disrupted multiple flights, prompting security personnel to remove him from the aircraft and restrict his access to the boarding area.
According to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the passenger was initially deboarded from an Air France flight due to disruptive behaviour that posed a safety risk to other passengers.
Achimugu stated that the passenger after dropping him in Abuja without a valid Nigerian visa, was denied entry into the country, noting that “Air France accommodated him in a hotel within the airport terminal after a visit from staff of the French Embassy and a medical doctor. However, his erratic behaviour continued.
“After Air France refused to airlift him back to his country, British Airways also declined to accept him on board due to his disruptive conduct and his failure to provide proof of payment for his ticket.
“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 was granted accommodation in a hotel within the airport terminal.
“Later, British Airways deboarded him due to the same unruly behaviour displayed aboard Air France. Today, he was scheduled to depart via Asky but could not present evidence of payment for the e-ticket he provided. The airline declined to airlift him.”
Achimugu remarked that Immigration officials faced significant challenges handling the erratic passenger, who was seen littering the airport terminal with tissue paper while shouting, “My passport, my passport.”
“Apparently, the immigration officers wanted to ensure that he boarded his flight before handing his international passport to prevent him from escaping through the exit gate and into the city,” Achimugu added.
Dailyeconomy had on December 27, 2024, reported that the NCAA Acting Director-General, Chris Najomo, highlighted the urgent need to address unruly passenger behaviour after the Vice President of Airwings also double as the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, mentioned unruly passengers as one of the major challenges for flight cancellations and delays.
Najomo emphasised that such actions are unacceptable, urging passengers to act responsibly, especially during peak travel periods.
