An Asaba-bound Air Peace flight was forced to abort its taxiing phase and return to the ramp at Murtala Muhammed Airport on Monday after a passenger engaged in an altercation with cabin crew and issued a disturbing safety threat onboard.
The disturbance occurred aboard flight P47866 on Monday, November 9, 2026, as the aircraft prepared for departure to Delta State.
Details of the operational disruption were confirmed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
According to reports, the conflict began when the passenger, identified as Celestine Ezeudu, repeatedly defied explicit safety instructions from flight attendants to put away his mobile device and cease taking photos during pre-flight preparations.
The situation escalated into a full confrontation when a second crew member intervened. During the exchange, Ezeudu reportedly lashed out, making a statement that immediately raised security alarms.
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“The anger I am feeling can burn down this plane,” Ezeudu allegedly warned the crew.
Recognizing the immediate security risk, the cabin crew alerted the flight captain, who aborted the take-off sequence and taxied the aircraft back to the apron at 3:57 pm to de-board the passenger.
Ezeudu disembarked without further physical resistance, while a companion traveling alongside him voluntarily chose to leave the aircraft as well.
During questioning inside the airport’s security holding facility, Ezeudu admitted that his outburst was fueled by frustration over missing an earlier flight connection. However, he claimed he did not expect his statements to prompt an aircraft turn-back and ground operations.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns over passenger discipline within Nigeria’s domestic aviation space.
Reiterating its strict safety stance, the NCAA emphasized that flight crews and captains are mandated to halt flight operations and disembark any passenger who poses a distraction, security risk, or threat to the safety of the aircraft, crew, and traveling public.
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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.
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