A plane of the United Nigeria Airlines was on Thursday grounded by the authorities for hours after a fight ensued between a passenger and a crew member.
NPO Reports that flights of the airline has been disrupted with lamentations by many whose flights were scheduled for morning, noon and afternoon having their flights postposed.
A statement by the airline confirmed that disruptions to its operations occurred after a passenger and a crew member had scuffles shortly before take off of its flight from Lagos to Asaba in the early hours of Thursday.
The scuffle was said to have started after the doors of the aircraft had been shut.
As a result, it was gathered that many other flights for the day were subjected to shifts.
Findings by the NPO Reports showed that a flight earlier scheduled for 12:30noon today was initially shifted to 3pm. It was later again shifted to 5pm.
A passenger who did not want his name in print confirmed to this publication Thursday as at 5pm that his flight of 12:30 noon which was moved to 3pm and later 5pm appeared to have been shifted to 7:30pm again.
“That is the indication I am having now and it all seems unsure here,” said the passenger.
See the Airline’s Full Statement Below:
We deeply regret notifying the general public that our Lagos-Asaba flight, originally scheduled for 6:30am on Thursday, December 19th, was delayed due to an unfortunate incident involving unruly passengers. This individual physically assaulted a crew member after everyone had boarded and the door of the aircraft was firmly shut.
The commotion caused by this passenger lasted a long time and for safety reasons and in accordance with international aviation protocols, the aircraft was grounded, resulting in hours-long delay. Unfortunately, this disruption may have reverberating effects on other flights across our network and may cause more delays and cancellations. We are deeply sorry about this.
We understand and respect our passengers’ right to express their concerns.
However, it is important to emphasize that any form of physical or verbal assault against any crew member is a serious offence under international aviation laws and is strictly prohibited. Such behaviour not only endangers the safety and security of everyone on board but also disrupts the travel plans of fellow passengers.
We urge our valued passengers to use appropriate channels, such as
customer service hotlines or online feedback forms, to address any issues or dissatisfaction they may have. This ensures that concerns are handled efficiently and respectfully, without compromising the safety and comfort of other passengers.
At United Nigeria Airlines, safety is not just a priority but the very foundation upon which our operations are built. Our commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards is unwavering, and we take all necessary measures to ensure the well-being of our passengers and crew. ask velor your continuur suppose and operatience