An Air Peace flight scheduled to depart for Abuja was forced to return to the airport ramp after a passenger allegedly threatened to set the aircraft ablaze during a confrontation with cabin crew.

The incident occurred on Monday, November 9, aboard flight P47866, according to the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu.

Achimugu said the passenger, identified as Celestine Ezeudu, allegedly refused to obey instructions from the cabin crew to stop taking photographs and put away his device as the aircraft prepared for take-off.

The situation reportedly escalated when another crew member approached him, leading to an argument during which Ezeudu allegedly made a threatening remark.

According to Achimugu, the passenger declared: “The anger I am feeling can burn down this plane.”

Following the threat, the cabin crew immediately alerted the captain, who ordered the aircraft to return to the ramp at 3:57pm.

The NCAA official explained that Ezeudu eventually complied with instructions to disembark without further resistance. His friend, who was also travelling on the flight, voluntarily left the aircraft in solidarity with him.

Achimugu further disclosed that the passenger was taken to the airport’s crime room for questioning, where he reportedly explained that his anger arose from missing an earlier flight.

He added that Ezeudu admitted he had not anticipated that his conduct would result in the aircraft returning to the ramp.