The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said Air France deboarded a disruptive French passenger at the Abuja International Airport because he (passenger) did not possess a Nigerian visa.
Recall that there was a scuffle at the airport on Tuesday when the passenger was deboarded by the officials of the airline.
The passenger, according to Punch, flew into the country through Air France but was denied entry after he was discovered to have visited without a visa.
The unnamed passenger caused security and diplomatic concerns at the airport, forcing immigration officers to deboard him from an Air France flight and restricting his access to the boarding area over his unruly behaviour.
Spokesman for the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu said on his X handle on Wednesday (yesterday) that the passenger’s disruptive behaviour in the aircraft was a safety risk for other passengers.
“Immigration officials had quite a hectic time handling the erratic passenger, who could be seen littering our clean terminal with what seems to be tissue paper and screaming, ‘My passport, my passport,’” Achimugu said.
“Being a French national, he was visited by staff of the French Embassy and a doctor and then granted accommodation in the hotel within the airport terminal,” Achimugu wrote.
“Later, British Airways deboarded him due to the same unruly behaviour he had put up aboard Air France.
“Today, he was supposed to depart via ASKY but could not present evidence of payment for the e-‘ticket’ he presented. The airline declined to airlift him.
“Apparently, the immigration officers wanted to ensure that he boarded his flight before handing the passenger his international passport to prevent him from escaping through the exit gate and into the city,” he added.
Achimugu also stated that NCAA’s regional head, consumer protection, Ms Miriam Anosike, had addressed Air France personnel, reminding them that they brought the passenger to Nigeria and must be responsible for airlifting him.
“If you are afraid to airlift him, why do you expect other airlines to be responsible for him? Get him a ticket and move him tomorrow!” he quoted Anosike as saying.
“Tomorrow night (today), we will monitor Air France operations to ensure that the passenger is safely airlifted,” Achimugu added.
