Security agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have arrested three unruly passengers aboard an Air Peace flight from London after they engaged in disruptive behaviour.
The incident occurred during the flight when two of the individuals, identified as Adedigba Adewale and Ashibogu Magnus, who were originally seated in Economy Class, unlawfully occupied seats in the Business Class cabin and refused multiple directives from the crew to return to their assigned seats. They bullied their way to business class.
Air Peace spokesperson, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, said despite efforts to de-escalate the situation, the unruly passengers remained defiant, creating a tense atmosphere onboard.
In addition to disregarding crew instructions, the individuals openly consumed a bottle of rum they had brought onboard.
The third unruly passenger, identified as Iwonze Benjamin, joined in the consumption of the rum and very unruly behaviour.
This further exacerbated their unruly conduct. The behaviour raised security and safety concerns among passengers and crew, prompting the captain to leave the cockpit to assess the situation personally before returning as a precautionary measure.
Recognising 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.
Air Peace has reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and adherence to global aviation standards. The airline emphasised that any form of disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated and assured the public of its continuous efforts to uphold the highest levels of security and order on all flights.
Air Peace praised its crew for their professionalism in handling this threat to safety in a way that prevented a worse event from occurring.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident, and appropriate legal action is expected to follow.
