Shocking video footage captured a disruptive airplane passenger assaulting a flight attendant following a simple request.
The altercation began when a female passenger, dressed in a light blue top and black trousers, allegedly refused to comply with cabin crew instructions to power off her mobile phone. Despite being instructed to switch the device to flight mode, the passenger persisted, prompting the pilot to abort take-off and return the aircraft to the airport.
Subsequently, the passenger was escorted out of her seat towards the aircraft exit, where she resisted and physically attacked a flight attendant.
The incident unfolded at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, as the attendant can be heard in the video exclaiming that the passenger was striking her. Ground personnel and security guards intervened as the passenger’s disruptive behavior continued, eventually leading to her being escorted off the plane onto an airport bus.
Local reports indicated that the disruptive episode, dubbed “runway rage,” occurred just before departure on an Ibom Air flight from Lagos to Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo on August 10.
Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), emphasized the importance of passengers adhering to cabin crew instructions, particularly regarding basic safety protocols like turning off electronic devices during critical flight phases.
Achimugu stressed the need for passengers to understand and fulfill their responsibilities to ensure safety on board, highlighting that electronic devices can interfere with aircraft systems. Similar incidents have occurred globally, with a recent case in the US where a man was forcibly removed from a plane after attempting to harm a flight attendant with a broken spoon and making threatening statements.
The disruptive passenger on the United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston exhibited alarming behavior, including trying to open an emergency door and making bizarre claims, adding to the growing concern over in-flight disturbances.