Deboarding Drama: French Passenger Causes Commotion at Abuja Airport
On January 1, 2025, an unruly French passenger was deboarded from an Air France flight at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport due to disruptive behavior that posed a safety risk to other passengers.
Lacking a valid Nigerian visa, the individual was denied entry into the country and accommodated in an airport hotel after visits from French Embassy staff and a medical doctor.
The following day, the passenger exhibited similar disruptive behavior on a British Airways flight, leading to his deboarding.
On January 2, he attempted to depart via Asky Airlines but was denied boarding after failing to provide proof of ticket payment.
Throughout these incidents, immigration officials faced challenges managing the passenger, who was seen littering the terminal and loudly demanding his passport.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has emphasized that Air France, having brought the passenger into Nigeria, is responsible for facilitating his departure.
The NCAA plans to monitor Air France’s operations to ensure the passenger is safely transported out of the country and has summoned the airline to explain its handling of the situation.
