British Airways denied 58 passengers boarding on its Abuja-London flight due to a faulty door, citing safety reasons. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that the airline had to keep some seats unoccupied to ensure safety.
According to Michael Achimugu, the director of public relations and consumer protection at NCAA, the airline provided hotel accommodation for the affected passengers.
Read also: NCAA to meet with Ibom Air, witnesses over flight disruption incident
While 28 passengers opted to return home, 30 accepted the offer. Achimugu added that affected passengers can file for compensation and arrangements are being made to airlift them the following morning.
The NCAA advised passengers to reach out to their Consumer Protection Officers at the terminal in similar situations, ensuring their right to care is protected.
One social media user suggested that the NCAA should investigate the condition of aircraft interiors used by foreign airlines in Nigeria.
Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha
Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.
She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.
She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.
As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.
She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.
Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the
prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category.
She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.
She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.
Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
