Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has responded strongly to an altercation involving a Nigerian passenger and Kenya Airways at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. The incident, which went viral on social media, has prompted diplomatic concerns and reignited debate over airline treatment of African passengers.
NCAA Director Michael Achimugu condemned Kenya Airways for its handling of the situation, stating that the airline has a “long history of alleged maltreatment of Nigerian passengers, including NCAA staff.” He acknowledged that disruptive behaviour at airports is unacceptable but argued there was “no justification for attempting to forcibly delete her video,” suggesting an attempt to suppress evidence.
Achimugu also questioned why the airline had issued a boarding pass in Lagos if the passenger lacked a valid Schengen visa for her final destination. “If she was ineligible to travel due to visa requirements, Kenya Airways should not have issued her a boarding pass in Lagos,” he stated. Noting that she had previously travelled the same route, he highlighted inconsistencies in how travel regulations were enforced.
The NCAA has since demanded that Kenya Airways provide CCTV footage to verify claims that the passenger threw sanitary pads at airline staff. Meanwhile, the airline has maintained that the passenger was informed of visa restrictions and declined an alternative route via London to Manchester. Kenya Airways further stated that it does not provide accommodation for passengers denied boarding due to visa issues, adding that “passenger and agent interactions should always be respectful.”
As tensions escalated, Achimugu warned of repercussions if the matter was not resolved quickly. “If Ms. Gloria Ibukun Omisore is not airlifted safely to her final destination within a couple of hours, there will be ramifications,” he cautioned.
Later in the day, Achimugu updated that Kenya Airways had requested more time to resolve the issue. “The situation is calm in Nairobi,” he confirmed, adding that the passenger would be flown back to Nigeria that night. He reiterated the importance of compliance with aviation regulations, urging passengers to “desist from unruly behaviour at any airport.”
