A woman has been banned from flying with an airline for life following an altercation with cabin crew on a flight from Uyo to Lagos.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, a passenger was seen slapping a cabin crew member after she was allegedly prevented from leaving the aircraft.
The air hostess said the passenger slapped her after being asked to follow standard safety procedures.
The situation escalated, prompting airline staff to intervene.
Upon arrival at an airport in Lagos, aviation security personnel were called to escort the passenger off the plane.
Footage shows security personnel restraining the woman as she was removed from the aircraft.
The airline confirmed it is taking legal action against the passenger.
According to the airline, the passenger’s conduct posed a serious threat to the safety of the crew, passengers, and aircraft.
The airline stated that shortly before takeoff, the passenger was instructed to switch off her mobile phone in line with standard aviation safety procedures.
She reportedly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.
This led to a verbal exchange, which was eventually resolved, and the flight departed as scheduled.
Upon arrival in Lagos, after all other passengers had disembarked, the woman confronted the Purser, who had earlier given the instruction.
She approached the Purser, reportedly stepped on her, forcibly removed her wig, took off her glasses and threw them to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her.
The airline said she slapped the Purser multiple times, and when another cabin crew member attempted to intervene, she was also slapped.
The passenger then allegedly tried to remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, which could have endangered the aircraft.
By that time, the Pilot-in-Command had alerted airport security. Before security arrived, the Purser, as seen in the viral video, prevented the passenger from leaving the aircraft.
Upon arrival of airline security personnel, the passenger continued to resist and was physically restrained.
Even after being removed from the plane, she continued to assault security personnel and reportedly slapped the ground supervisor.
The passenger was taken into custody by airport security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.
The airline has submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and imposed a permanent travel ban on the passenger, barring her from all future flights with the carrier.
“We reiterate our zero-tolerance policy towards any form of unruly or violent conduct that threatens the safety of passengers, crew, or equipment. Such behaviour will be met with the strongest possible response, including legal action and permanent restriction from our services,” the airline said.
“We commend the bravery and professionalism of our crew in handling this situation under extremely challenging circumstances, as well as the swift support from airport security and the Nigerian Police,” it added.
The NCAA also reminded the public that following crew instructions is a legal requirement, not an option.
The woman involved has claimed that she was assaulted by airline staff and security personnel.
Videos circulating show her clothes torn and body exposed as she was being removed from the aircraft.
She alleged the altercation began after a dispute over her luggage and described airline staff as unprofessional and physically aggressive.
She further stated that security personnel escalated the situation by using excessive force, which resulted in her clothes being ripped.
The incident has sparked public discussion about air travel etiquette and the consequences of unruly behaviour.
Social media platforms have seen widespread debate, with some condemning the passenger’s actions and supporting the airline’s decision, while others have criticised the treatment she received.
X user Olori commented, “As much as I condemn her actions, you people should invest in better restraining measures. If she had been tased and handcuffed from the beginning, her body would have never been exposed. And that video should never have been posted by the crew member, regardless of whether it was intentional.”
Another user, E.J., said, “A passenger must follow the crew’s instructions, especially when it comes to safety. To me, switching a phone to airplane mode seems sufficient. However, the crew’s protocol to have phones completely off is to avoid any potential interference with the aircraft’s systems. Disregarding this rule is a safety risk for everyone on board.”
