Woman Escapes Mob Attack By Ibom Air Passengers After Causing Flight Cancellation
A female passenger narrowly escaped a mob attack by angry passengers after her unruly behavior caused the cancellation of an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Abuja at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
The incident, revealed by Michael Achimugu, spokesman for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), involved the unnamed passenger’s actions that disrupted the flight, leading to a significant loss of time, money, and opportunities for the 89 other passengers on board. Ibom Air also incurred financial losses and scheduling issues due to the cancellation.
According to Achimugu, passengers had been informed at check-in that due to weight restrictions, some luggage might not arrive on the same flight. Passengers with bags over 20kg signed indemnity forms, and those with bags near 20kg were told their bags would arrive on the next scheduled flight, which they agreed to, including the female passenger.
However, after boarding, the passenger noticed her bag was not among those loaded onto the aircraft. She angrily disembarked and demanded that her bag be loaded onto the plane before it could depart, threatening not to fly otherwise. Despite efforts by FAAN AVSEC (Aviation Security) and the pilot to resolve the situation, the passenger refused to relent.
The pilot offered to carry her checked-in bag in the cabin, but it didn’t fit. As time passed, the airspace closure deadline was fast approaching due to Uyo’s status as a sunset airport, which led to further delays. AVSEC then informed the woman that she would be deboarded if she continued to refuse to fly without her bag. In a defiant move, she blocked the aisle, insisting the flight would not depart without her luggage.
Among the passengers were an infant and a chef traveling to provide a service in Abuja. As the situation escalated, the pilot was forced to announce the cancellation of the flight. At this point, other passengers became irate, and had it not been for the timely intervention of AVSEC and Ibom Air staff, led by Amaka Echetabu, the woman could have been attacked.
Achimugu praised the swift response that ensured the woman’s safety, noting that the airline had to provide refreshments, transportation for local passengers, and hotel accommodations for out-of-town passengers at significant cost.
He also emphasized that the cancellation caused a scheduling challenge for the airline, which would take days to resolve, adding that this was an avoidable issue for an industry with already thin profit margins.
