Unruly Passenger Deplaned by Pilot, Threatens to Sue Air Peace

A passenger, who was de-planed by pilot in Lagos-Owerri bound Air Peace flight, has threatened to sue the airline for alleged maltreatment.

The victim, Christopher Aniagbaoso, on Monday narrated how he missed his flight on May 12, 2019, because he was on a call that lasted over one hour after the plane was boarded, so he rescheduled his flight after paying for no-show of N7, 200, but was asked to leave the aircraft by the pilot after a prolonged argument with cabin crew.

According to Aniagbaoso, who said he was issued over-wing exit seat, he refused to take the usual safety briefing from the cabin crew for passengers who sit on the exit row, insisting that he must be briefed in his local language, Igbo.

He also repudiated the attempt by other passengers who wanted to translate the safety briefing to him, but further insisted that he must be briefed in his local language by the cabin crew because he does not understand English language.

Consequently, the pilot-in-command of the flight de-boarded Aniagbaoso after the issue concerning his safety briefing had caused the delay of the flight for almost 30 minutes.

Aniagbaoso, who later boarded Arik Air flight to his destination, said: “I see it as an insult. I have been to different countries and if there are several languages spoken, provisions are made for it. I am speaking up because I do not want this to happen to someone else."

In his reaction to the incident, the spokesman of Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, explained that the airline de-boarded the passenger in order to guarantee the safety of its crew and passengers.

Iwarah said Aniagbaoso’s conduct had the potential of jeopardising the safety of the airline passengers and crew and such action would not be accepted in the airline flights.

“Mr. Christopher Aniagboso had missed his morning Lagos-Owerri flight on May 12, 2019. He later showed up for the afternoon flight in good time and was issued an over-wing exit seat on request.

“After boarding, he was approached by a crew member for the normal safety briefing for passengers in the over-wing exit seats, but he suddenly claimed he could not understand English. Other passengers around him offered to translate to him, but he insisted that the crew must brief him in Igbo.

“When all efforts to have Aniagboso cooperate with the crew failed, the crew advised him to change his seat as the flight was already running late. He declined the advice to change his seat. The captain of the flight, who was eventually briefed on the development, also did everything to secure Aniagboso's cooperation to no avail. At this point, our crew members were left with no other alternative than to advise Aniagboso to disembark to enable the flight depart.”

He added that only those who are able to clearly understand and express their willingness to perform their safety responsibility are allowed by aviation regulations to sit in the exit row of flights.