BRITISH Airways (BA) on Friday morning denied 58 passengers boarding its Abuja–London flight after a technical fault was detected in one of the aircraft’s doors.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that the airline took the precautionary measure to leave several seats unoccupied for safety reasons.
Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, disclosed the development in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, explaining that the fault necessitated a reduction in passenger numbers.
“As a result of the faulty door, they had to deny 58 passengers boarding this morning,” Achimugu wrote.
According to him, the airline offered hotel accommodation to affected passengers, with 30 accepting the arrangement while 28 opted to return home.
He further stated that arrangements have been made to airlift the affected travellers on Saturday morning. Passengers are also entitled to claim compensation for the inconvenience.
Achimugu urged air travellers to always seek assistance from NCAA Consumer Protection Officers stationed at airport terminals in cases of flight delays or disruptions.
“They will ensure that your right to care is protected,” he assured.
The incident has sparked criticism from some Nigerians online, with users questioning the quality of aircraft deployed to Nigeria by some foreign airlines.
One X user, @NewDawnNaija23, remarked: “Not nice at all despite the huge amount of money that they charge.”
British Airways is yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of press time.
