Get Guardian on GoogleAir Peace flight P47866 to ABB experienced a ramp return on Monday due to an unruly behavior incident that occured onboard.
In a post on his official X account, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Public Affairs Director, Michael Achimugu, said the ramp return was triggered by passenger Celestine Ezeudu refusing to stop taking pictures during takeoff and making the statement “The anger I am feeling can burn down this plane.”
According to Achimugu, the crew alerted the captain immediately, leading to a safe return at 1557HRS while Ezeudu and his friend disembarked voluntarily, with the passenger later claiming frustration from missing an earlier flight in the airport crime room.
“One Celestine Ezeudu refused direct instructions from cabin crew to stop taking pictures and put his device away while the flight attempted to take off,” he said.
“The passenger ignored the instructions and when a second member of the crew approached, an altercation broke out and the passenger made a statement: “The anger I am feeling can burn down this plane.”
“The crew immediately alerted the captain who then initiated a ramp return at 1557HRS. The passenger complied with instructions to be removed from the Air Peace aircraft without further struggle.
“His friend and co-traveller on the same flight also disembarked of his own will, in solidarity with the unruly passenger.
“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.”
The incident highlights ongoing unruly passenger challenges on Nigerian domestic flights, consistent with Air Peace’s recent zero-tolerance policy announcements for such behavior starting in 2026.
