Following disruptive behaviour on an Air Peace flight from London that jeopardised the safety of passengers and crew, security personnel at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos arrested three belligerent passengers on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
In a statement released on Thursday, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, the spokesperson for Air Peace and Head of Corporate Communications, confirmed the occurrence, stated that security authorities are looking into it, and that legal action is anticipated.
Two travellers, Adedigba Adewale and Ashibogu Magnus, who had been seated in Economy Class, illegally took Business Class seats and disregarded repeated orders from the crew to return to their designated seats, causing the disruption to start in mid-flight.
There was tension on board as a result of the people’s defiance in the face of de-escalation attempts. By consuming a bottle of rum they had brought on board, the passengers further broke flight rules.
Iwonze Benjamin, the third passenger, joined them in drinking and behaved erratically as well.
The statement reads: “This furthermore exacerbated their unruly conduct. Their behaviour raised security and safety concerns among passengers and crew, prompting the captain to make repeated announcements from the cockpit.
“Recognizing 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 emphasized 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.”