Three passengers—Adedigba Adewale, Ashibogu Magnus, and Iwonze Benjamin—were arrested on Wednesday at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for allegedly causing a serious disturbance aboard an Air Peace flight from London to Lagos.

Dispute Over Seating Sparks Chaos Mid-Flight

The incident reportedly began when two of the passengers, despite holding economy class tickets, attempted to seat themselves in the business class section.

• Crew members approached the individuals and politely requested that they return to their assigned seats, but the passengers refused to comply.
• Attempts to de-escalate the situation failed, as the passengers insisted on staying in business class without authorization.
• The confrontation intensified when the individuals allegedly threatened to create disorder, leading to tension among other travelers onboard.

According to eyewitnesses, the passengers became increasingly aggressive, making loud statements that unsettled fellow passengers.

“They were shouting and insisting that they had a right to sit in business class, despite holding economy tickets. The crew handled it professionally, but these men refused to back down and even started making threats,” a witness recounted.

Security Alert and Arrest Upon Arrival

Recognizing the potential threat posed by the situation, the flight crew took immediate action by notifying Nigerian security agencies before landing in Lagos.

• Law enforcement officers were on standby at the airport upon the plane’s arrival to swiftly handle the situation.
• As soon as the aircraft landed, security personnel boarded the plane, identified the disruptive passengers, and took them into custody for questioning.
• The individuals were immediately escorted out of the plane, preventing further disruption for passengers disembarking from the international flight.

“Recognizing the potential threat, the flight crew notified security agencies in Nigeria ahead of arrival. Upon landing, law enforcement officials were on the ground to apprehend the individuals who were taken into custody for further investigations,” an Air Peace spokesperson confirmed.

Air Peace Commends Crew, Reiterates Zero Tolerance for Disruptions

Despite the aggressive behavior of the passengers, no crew members sustained any injuries, as the altercation remained verbal rather than physical.

In a statement following the incident, Air Peace commended its flight crew for handling the situation with professionalism and efficiency, ensuring that safety was maintained throughout the flight.

“To the glory of God, none of our crew members sustained any form of injury. They only engaged in a verbal altercation. It is important to note that at Air Peace, our commitment to passenger safety and adherence to global aviation standards is second to none,” the airline stated.

The airline reaffirmed its strict policies against unruly behavior, warning that any actions that threaten flight safety will not be tolerated.

“Any form of disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. We remain committed to upholding the highest levels of security and order on all Air Peace flights,” the spokesperson added.

Ongoing Investigation and Authorities’ Response

The three arrested passengers are currently in custody for further questioning, as authorities seek to determine the full extent of their actions and decide on appropriate legal measures.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach Director of Aviation Security, Igbafe Afegbai, for official comments on the case were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages regarding the incident.

Preventing Future Incidents

This latest event underscores the importance of passenger discipline and compliance with airline regulations to ensure smooth flight operations. It also highlights the readiness of Nigerian aviation authorities to take swift action against disruptive passengers to maintain order in the country’s air travel sector.

With increased global scrutiny on airline security, Nigerian authorities are expected to tighten enforcement of aviation laws, particularly regarding passenger conduct, to prevent similar disruptions in the future.