December 19. 2021

Pandemonium broke out at Asaba International Airport when an Arik Air passenger refused to comply with Covid-19 protocol by refusing to wear a face mask and turning down the use of hand sanitizer.

The incident which happened on Thursday caused a delay in boarding and take off as passengers were stranded on the tarmac waiting for the commotion inside the aircraft to peter out.

A video of the incident has been trending online showing someone being bundled out of the airplane by security officials as other passengers who were yet to board looked bewildered at the tarmac.

But in its statement, Arik Air said the passenger who was removed from the aircraft was “unruly”. The statement said inter alia:

“On Thursday, December 16, 2021, an Arik Air flight from Asaba which was originally scheduled to depart for Lagos at 4:50pm was later rescheduled for 8:30pm. At the commencement of boarding, the first set of passengers to enter the plane was a man and a lady claiming to be the man’s wife. The man was without a face mask and the lead crew asked him to comply with the COVID-19 boarding protocol. The passenger not only refused to use his face mask, he also turned down the use of hand sanitizer and pushed the lead crew out of the way,” the Arik Air statement said.

“The passenger then began to shout at the top of his voice and Arik Air’s Asaba Station Manager went to appeal to him for calm. He refused and continued to make video recording of the scene with his phone. He refused to listen to the Captain as well. Meanwhile the rest of the passengers were on ground waiting to board the aircraft.

“After several appeals were made to him by the SAHCOL Station Manager, Asaba Airport Company Senior Manager on Quality and Safety and others, the passenger had to be forced out of the plane by a combined team of Airport Security and Police at 9:15pm.

“Arik Air strongly condemns such unruly behaviour by passengers on board any of its flights and advises that such actions could attract flight ban or sanctions prescribed by the regulatory Authority.

“Arik Air will continue to operate at the highest standards obtainable in the industry and advises customers to endeavour to comply with all safety instructions issued by the crew.”