In response to a video on social media showing passengers protesting flight delays, Air peace airline has said that those in the video were supposed to fly Lagos-Abuja at 7:20 p.m on Tuesday, September 28, but were unable to do so for operational reasons.
The airline said 46 of them were put on a flight that departed at 7:16 pm, leaving 46 passengers behind.
Air Peace said the delay was professionally communicated to passengers and they apologized for the inconvenience. However, the airline said that one of the passengers had turned violent and started attacking an employee, which led them to notify the security department of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the passenger was taken away.
“We have noticed a certain video portraying Air Peace in a bad light on social media and it has become imperative that we clear the air and correct the impressions created.
“The passengers in the video were supposed to be on a 19:20 Lagos-Abuja flight but consequent upon tenable unforeseen operational concerns, the flight was delayed. We put 46 of them on a flight that departed at 19:16, leaving behind 46 passengers. The delay was professionally communicated to the passengers and we apologised for the delay and inconvenience.
“However, a certain male passenger who suddenly became uncontrollably irate assaulted our boarding officer. This was clearly unnecessary and despicable. We were about distributing refreshments in consonance with NCAA regulations, but his action disrupted the process and noise erupted from different quarters while he incited other passengers against the airline.
“FAAN Security was notified as the passengers were now trying to gain entrance to the airfield even when the aircraft was not yet on ground. FAAN was compelled to lock the boarding gate to prevent the passengers from going to the ramp, a highly regulated part of the airport.
“At 22:35, we called for boarding for the remaining 46 passengers. Due to his behaviour, the passenger was arrested by FAAN security. The action was taken in the best interest of the passengers and the airline. Also, the lady who recorded the video being circulated, without the consent of those being recorded, was arrested by FAAN security who repeatedly told her to stop recording. The arrests of both passengers were done by FAAN security in line with their standard procedures.
