British Airways on Friday denied boarding to 58 passengers scheduled for its Abuja–London flight due to a faulty door.
For safety reasons, the airline had to leave some seats unoccupied, a move confirmed by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, disclosed the development in a post on his X handle.
He explained that, as a result of the faulty door, “they had to deny 58 passengers boarding this morning.”
According to him, “Hotel accommodation has been provided, and 28 passengers opted to return home, while 30 accepted the offer.
“Affected passengers can file for compensation. Arrangements are being made to airlift them tomorrow morning,” he added.
Achimugu further advised passengers that “the first resort in situations like this is to locate the NCAA Consumer Protection Officers at the terminal, and they will ensure that your right to care is protected (if the airline delays).”
While the decision was in line with standard safety protocol, one X user urged the NCAA to assess the condition of some aircraft interiors operated by foreign airlines flying into Nigeria.
“Not nice at all despite the huge amount of money that they charge,” the user with the handle @NewDawnNaija23 said.