The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to investigate an airline following a passenger’s complaint that he suffered bleeding after being exposed to extreme heat inside an aircraft travelling from Abuja to Calabar.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, while responding to a complaint posted on X by a passenger, Bashir Usman.
Usman said the incident occurred on Monday, October 26, after passengers boarded the aircraft but were forced to remain inside for about 50 minutes without functioning air conditioning or ventilation.
Achimugu confirmed that he had spoken with the passenger by telephone and would refer the matter to the NCAA’s Directorate of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards (DOLTS) for further investigation.
He said the authority would investigate why the aircraft’s doors remained shut while passengers were exposed to extreme heat without adequate ventilation.
According to Achimugu, the investigation would also examine the passenger’s claims that the airline’s crew failed to adequately explain the delay or apologise to those on board.
Passenger recounts distressing experience
Recounting his experience, Usman said passengers boarded the aircraft at approximately 12:07 p.m. However, after the doors were closed, they remained inside for about 50 minutes without the engines running and without functioning air conditioning.
He explained that the heat became unbearable and eventually caused him to start bleeding.
Usman added that the cabin crew considered removing him from the aircraft because of concerns about his medical condition and the possibility of an emergency during the flight.
According to him, he repeatedly assured the crew that he was fine and did not need to be removed from the aircraft.
He said other passengers intervened to assist him, with some taking turns to fan him while a woman provided him with a hand fan.
Their assistance, he explained, helped him remain on board until the flight eventually departed and arrived in Calabar at approximately 2:04 p.m.
Usman described the experience as distressing, particularly because the scheduled flight was expected to last only about 45 minutes.
He also expressed gratitude to the passengers who supported him during the incident.
NCAA explains crew’s decision
While expressing sympathy for the passenger, Achimugu defended the crew’s decision to consider removing him from the aircraft for medical assessment.
He explained that Usman had informed him that exposure to heat had triggered bleeding episodes since his childhood. However, the crew members could not have known about this medical history when the incident occurred.
Achimugu maintained that the crew’s actions were guided by their responsibility to protect the safety of everyone on board.
He also cautioned passengers against allowing emotions to interfere with the work of airline personnel, particularly when crew members are carrying out safety-related duties.
According to him, cabin crew members are responsible for ensuring passengers’ safety and should not be prevented from performing their duties.
The NCAA official further explained that an aircraft captain could delay a flight or request a medical assessment if a passenger’s condition raised concerns about the safety of the individual or other people on board.
Investigation to establish circumstances
The NCAA’s investigation is expected to establish why passengers were kept inside the aircraft for an extended period without functioning air conditioning or ventilation and whether the airline followed the appropriate procedures.
The authority is also expected to examine the reported handling of the delay and the crew’s response to the passenger’s condition.
As of the time of the report, the airline involved had not been publicly identified, and the NCAA had not announced the outcome of its investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about passenger comfort, aircraft ventilation and the responsibility of airlines to communicate effectively with passengers during delays, particularly in periods of extreme heat.
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