Air Peace Removes Passenger Who Said His ‘Anger Can Burn Down This Plane’

Air Peace delayed a flight after an altercation between a passenger and cabin crew forced the aircraft to return to its parking area.

Michael Achimugu, director, public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said the incident played out on an Air Peace flight P47866 to ABB, code belonging to Asaba International Airport, Delta state.

He did not say where the flight was taking off from.

In a statement on Monday night, Achimugu said Celestine Ezeudu, the passenger, refused direct instructions from cabin crew to stop taking pictures and put his device away while the flight attempted to take off.

According to the NCAA official, Ezeudu ignored the instructions and when a second member of the crew approached, an altercation ensued and the passenger said: “The anger I am feeling can burn down this plane.”

“The crew immediately alerted the captain who then initiated a ramp return at 1557HRS. The passenger complied with instructions to be removed from the aircraft without further struggle,” the statement reads.

“His friend and co-traveller on the same flight also disembarked of his own will, in solidarity with the unruly passenger.”

When interrogated, Ezeudu claimed his fury stemmed from missing an earlier flight, but he did not know that his behaviour would lead to a ramp return, Achimugu said.

Passengers are generally required to switch off their phones or put them on flight mode before take-off and keep them that way until after landing.

Achimugu said passengers must obey cabin crew at all times.