NCAA investigates airline after passenger bleeds on Abuja-Calabar flight

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is looking into a complaint from a passenger who said poor ventilation and heat on a flight from Abuja to Calabar caused him to bleed.

Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said the issue has been sent to the Directorate of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards for further investigation.

The complaint came after a passenger, Bashir Usman, posted on X about his experience. He said passengers sat in the aircraft for about 50 minutes after the doors were closed. During this time, the engines were off and the air conditioning was not working.

Mr Usman mentioned that the heat became too much to handle, and he started bleeding before the plane landed in Calabar at 2:04 p.m. on Monday. He noted that the flight was supposed to last around 45 minutes and called the situation distressing.

"We boarded at 12:07 p.m. After the aircraft doors were shut, we remained onboard for about 50 minutes without the engines running and, sadly, without functioning air conditioning. The heat became unbearable, and I eventually started bleeding," he wrote.

He added that crew members approached him and suggested he leave the aircraft because of the bleeding, but he insisted he was okay. He thanked the other passengers who helped him during the ordeal, with some fanning him and one woman even lending him her mini fan.

According to him, other passengers were also worried about the heat and lack of ventilation. After they expressed their concerns, he was allowed to stay on the plane.

Mr Usman later thanked those who were on the Abuja-Calabar flight on October 26 for their support.

In a response on X, Mr Achimugu said he had a phone conversation with Mr Usman and expressed sympathy for what he went through. He mentioned that the passenger provided the name of the airline and that the NCAA would forward the complaint to the relevant department.

"We would like to know why the aircraft, in this season of extreme heat, had its door shut and no air conditioning/ventilation, according to your account of the incident," Mr Achimugu wrote.

He said the NCAA would take necessary actions if they confirm the passenger's claims. Mr Achimugu also asked if the airline's crew had given any explanation or apology regarding the situation during the delay and after landing in Calabar.

But he reminded passengers not to stop cabin crew from doing their safety duties. He said the crew might not have known the reason for Mr Usman’s bleeding and could have thought he needed medical help.

Mr Achimugu explained that the crew must think about everyone's safety and cannot assume that the bleeding is not serious. He also mentioned the recent Ebola scare highlighted the need for cabin crew to stay alert when a passenger shows signs that might need medical attention.

The NCAA did not mention the airline's name, whether the air conditioning system had failed, or why passengers stayed onboard for that long. The NCAA is in charge of regulating civil aviation in Nigeria and making sure airlines operate properly and protect passenger rights.

Their Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, especially Part 19, outline passengers’ rights and responsibilities, as well as airlines’ obligations. The authority has stepped in before concerning flight issues and how airlines treat passengers.

In September, they told United Nigeria Airlines to improve its operations and follow passenger rights rules after complaints about flight delays and communication problems with travelers.

The NCAA has not yet shared the results of its investigation or any actions against the airline.