Air Peace removed a passenger from one of its aircraft after he threatened to burn the plane, forcing the captain to return the flight to the ramp before take-off.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) disclosed the incident in a report shared on X by Michael Achimugu, its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, on Monday, November 9, 2026.
The flight, Air Peace P47866, was scheduled to operate to Asaba, Delta State, when the disruption occurred.
Altercation Over Mobile Device Use
According to the NCAA report, the aircraft returned to the ramp after an altercation between the passenger and cabin crew over the use of a mobile device.
The passenger, identified as Celestine Ezeudu, reportedly refused instructions from cabin crew members to stop taking pictures and to put away his device while the aircraft was preparing for take-off.
The situation escalated when a second crew member approached him, leading to an altercation during which Ezeudu allegedly threatened the aircraft.
Crew members alerted the captain following the threat, and a ramp return was initiated at 15:57 hours.
Ezeudu subsequently disembarked. His friend and co-traveller also voluntarily left the flight in solidarity with him.
The report stated that Ezeudu later attributed his anger to missing an earlier flight, although he reportedly said he did not realise his behaviour would cause the aircraft to return to the ramp.
Passenger Conduct Under Scrutiny
The Air Peace incident adds to a series of cases involving passenger conduct and aviation safety in Nigeria, including confrontations with airline crew and airport personnel.
In a separate case, a passenger was reported to the NCAA by Ibom Air, which announced a lifetime ban. The airline later withdrew its complaint, leading to the passenger’s discharge by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on August 13, 2025, and the ban was subsequently lifted.
On August 5, 2025, Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as Kwam 1, allegedly obstructed a ValueJet aircraft preparing to depart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The incident occurred during boarding for flight VK201 to Lagos, following a disagreement over a flask containing liquid exceeding the permitted 100ml limit.
The NCAA petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police to investigate and prosecute him, while Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo directed that he be placed on a no-fly list.
On August 13, 2025, Keyamo announced a review of the sanctions following Kwam 1’s public apology. His flight ban was reduced to one month, and the NCAA was directed to withdraw its criminal complaint.
FAAN was also directed to work towards engaging the musician as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol, a voluntary and unpaid role intended to discourage similar violations.
