An Air Peace passenger has been removed from an Abuja-bound flight after allegedly threatening that his anger could “burn down” the aircraft during a confrontation with cabin crew members over instructions to stop taking photographs and put away his electronic device.

The incident occurred on Monday, November 9, 2026, aboard Air Peace flight P47866, which was preparing for take-off when the disagreement escalated into an altercation between the passenger and airline personnel.

The passenger was identified as Celestine Ezeudu by Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

According to Achimugu, Ezeudu allegedly refused repeated instructions from cabin crew members to stop taking pictures and put away his device as the aircraft prepared for departure.

The situation reportedly deteriorated when another crew member approached him to reinforce the earlier instructions.

During the ensuing confrontation, the passenger allegedly made a threatening statement, declaring that the anger he was experiencing could cause the aircraft to catch fire.

The crew immediately alerted the aircraft’s captain, who ordered the plane to return to the ramp at 15:57 hours to facilitate the passenger’s removal.

Ezeudu reportedly complied with the instructions to leave the aircraft without further resistance. His travelling companion, who was also booked on the same flight, voluntarily disembarked in solidarity with him.

NCAA Explains Why Passenger Was Removed From Aircraft

Achimugu disclosed details of the incident in a report shared on social media on Monday, explaining that the situation was handled as an unruly passenger behaviour incident.

According to the NCAA official, the passenger’s refusal to obey safety instructions created a situation that required the intervention of the flight captain.

The incident report provided the following account of the confrontation:

“The anger I am feeling can burn down this plane.”

The report also stated:

“The crew immediately alerted the captain who then initiated a ramp return at 1557HRS. The passenger complied with instructions to be removed from the aircraft without further struggle.”

It further explained that Ezeudu’s travelling companion voluntarily left the aircraft.

“His friend and co-traveller on the same flight also disembarked of his own will, in solidarity with the unruly passenger.”

The NCAA official subsequently disclosed that the passenger was questioned about his behaviour following the incident.

Passenger Blames Missed Flight for His Anger

During questioning, Ezeudu reportedly explained that his frustration was caused by missing an earlier flight.

Achimugu said the passenger claimed that the experience had made him angry, although he apparently did not anticipate that his conduct would result in the aircraft returning to the ramp.

“In the crime room, Ezeudu claimed that his anger stemmed from missing an earlier flight, but he did not know that his behaviour would lead to a ramp return”, Achimugu added.

The explanation suggests that frustration over his travel arrangements contributed to the confrontation, although it did not excuse his alleged refusal to comply with the cabin crew’s instructions.

The incident also resulted in the removal of his travelling companion, who voluntarily abandoned the journey in solidarity with him.

Aviation Safety Concerns Over Unruly Passenger Behaviour

The development has drawn attention to the importance of passenger compliance with airline safety procedures, particularly during critical stages of flight operations.

Cabin crew members are responsible for ensuring that passengers follow safety instructions before take-off, during flight and before landing.

Instructions concerning electronic devices, seatbelts, luggage storage and other safety requirements are intended to minimise risks and ensure that aircraft operations proceed without unnecessary complications.

Passengers who refuse to comply with crew instructions can disrupt flight preparations and create situations requiring the captain to delay departure or return an aircraft to its parking position.

The decision to remove Ezeudu reflects the seriousness with which airlines and aviation authorities treat behaviour that could compromise the safety and security of passengers and crew members.

Neither the NCAA report nor the available incident account specified whether the passenger would face additional sanctions or prosecution.

The incident occurred as Air Peace was preparing to operate its Abuja-bound service, with the captain opting to return the aircraft to the ramp rather than allow the disagreement to continue.

The NCAA has continued to emphasise the importance of responsible passenger conduct and compliance with aviation safety regulations to prevent avoidable disruptions to flight operations.