In a recent incident at Lagos Airport, United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) had to take the unusual step of de-boarding an unruly passenger from its Flight U5 0510 bound for Owerri. The disruptive behavior of this female passenger posed a significant safety and order concern, prompting security agents to escort her off the plane.
The disruption unfolded when a flight attendant politely requested the passenger to place her handbag in the overhead bin, a standard procedure on commercial flights. However, the passenger vehemently refused and escalated the situation by confronting the attendant and loudly protesting, asserting, “This is my handbag, and you shouldn’t direct or tell me where to put it. This is not my first time on an aircraft. Please do not disturb me; leave me and my bag alone.”
Her refusal to cooperate and the escalating commotion led to a delay in the flight’s schedule, causing inconvenience to other passengers. With no resolution in sight, airline personnel decided to call security personnel to intervene.
Captain Tanunotonye Edom, the aircraft’s captain, addressed the other passengers, offering his apologies for the delay and the disruption caused by the unruly passenger. The flight, originally scheduled for a 7 am departure, eventually took off shortly before 8 am, after the disruptive passenger had been safely removed.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to airline safety protocols and the potential consequences of disruptive behavior on board commercial flights. United Nigeria Airlines and its crew are committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers, even when it requires taking decisive action to maintain order and security on their flights.
