A British Airways flight from Abuja to London on Friday faced an unexpected setback after a faulty aircraft door forced the airline to offload 58 passengers.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), confirmed the incident via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. According to him, the safety concern required British Airways to operate with reduced capacity, leaving several seats vacant in compliance with aviation safety regulations.
Achimugu stated that the affected passengers were promptly offered hotel accommodation, with 28 opting to return home and 30 accepting the stay arrangements. He further explained that arrangements had been made to airlift the passengers to London the following morning.
The NCAA also advised that passengers in similar situations should immediately contact the Consumer Protection Officers available at airport terminals. These officers are tasked with ensuring passengers receive their rights to care and compensation in the event of flight delays or cancellations.
Affected passengers on the Abuja–London route were also informed of their right to claim compensation for the inconvenience. British Airways assured them that safety remains the airline’s top priority, and the fault was addressed in line with global aviation standards.
The incident serves as a reminder of the critical role aviation safety protocols play in preventing in-flight emergencies, even when it means delaying departures or reducing passenger numbers.
