Passenger, crew member rancour grounds United Nigeria aircraft

United Nigeria airlines has disclosed that its Lagos-Asaba flight, originally scheduled for 6:30am on Thursday, December 19th, was grounded and delayed due to an incident involving an unruly passenger.

The airline said the individual physically assaulted a crew member after everyone had boarded and the door of the aircraft was firmly shut.

In a statement by the airline, it noted that, “the commotion caused by this passenger lasted a long time and for safety reasons and in accordance with international aviation protocols, the aircraft was grounded, resulting in hours-long delay. Unfortunately, this disruption may have a reverberating effect on other flights across our network and may cause more delay and cancellations. We are deeply sorry about this.

“We understand and respect our passengers’ right to express their concerns. However, it is important to emphasise that any form of physical or verbal assault against any crew member is a serious offense under international aviation laws and is strictly prohibited. Such behavior not only endangers the safety and security of everyone on board but also disrupts the travel plans of fellow passengers,” the airline said in a statement.

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The airline urged its passengers to use appropriate channels, such as customer service hotlines or online feedback forms, to address any issues or dissatisfaction they may have.

This, it said ensures that concerns are handled efficiently and respectfully, without compromising the safety and comfort of other passengers.

“At United Nigeria Airlines, safety is not just a priority but the very foundation upon which our operations are built. Our commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards is unwavering, and we take all necessary measures to ensure the well-being of our passengers and crew.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience during this time. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation,” the airline added.

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.