Nigerian airline removes passenger issuing risk to ‘burn down’ plane

A Nigerian airline has eliminated a passenger from one in all its plane after he allegedly threatened that his anger might “burn down” the airplane throughout a confrontation with the cabin crew earlier than take-off.

The incident occurred aboard an Air Peace flight P47866, scheduled to fly to Asaba, Delta state, after the passenger, recognized as Celestine Ezeudu, allegedly refused repeated directions from the cabin crew to cease taking footage and put away his machine.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, narrated the incident in a submit on X on Tuesday.

Achimugu stated the state of affairs escalated when one other crew member approached Mr Ezeudu, resulting in a wrangle throughout which he allegedly made the risk.

“The passenger ignored the instructions and when a second member of the crew approached, an altercation broke out, and the passenger made a statement: ‘The anger I am feeling can burn down this plane,’” Achimugu stated.

He stated the crew instantly alerted the captain, who initiated a ramp return at 15:57, permitting the passenger to be faraway from the plane.

Ezeudu reportedly complied with directions to disembark with out additional resistance, whereas his travelling companion additionally left the plane voluntarily.

Achimugu stated the passenger later defined that his anger stemmed from lacking an earlier flight, however he had not anticipated that his conduct would result in the plane returning to the ramp.

The incident comes amid recurring confrontations between passengers and aviation personnel in Nigeria, a few of which have triggered flight disruptions, arrests and sanctions.

In August 2025, Ibom Air reported a confrontation involving passenger Comfort Emmanson on its Uyo-Lagos flight.

The airline stated the incident started earlier than a take-off in Uyo when Ms Emmanson refused to change off her cell phone after being instructed to take action consistent with aviation security procedures.

Although the state of affairs was initially resolved and the flight departed, the airline stated Ms Emmanson later confronted the cabin crew member who had given the instruction after the plane arrived in Lagos.