British Airways has denied boarding to 58 Abuja–London-bound passengers due to a faulty aircraft door, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed on Friday.
Michael Achimugu, spokesperson for the NCAA, disclosed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that the issue was identified before takeoff.
“The actual problem was a faulty door,” he said. “So, the seats around the door had to be kept unoccupied for safety reasons. As a result, they had to deny 58 passengers boarding this morning.”
According to him, the affected flight, BA052 (ABV–LHR), was scheduled for departure on Friday morning.
Achimugu noted that hotel accommodation was provided to the affected passengers. Thirty accepted the offer, while 28 chose to return home.
He assured the public that arrangements are underway to airlift the affected passengers on Saturday morning, and urged them to seek redress, noting that they are eligible for compensation.
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He further advised affected passengers to immediately contact NCAA Consumer Protection Officers at the terminal in such situations, saying:
“The first resort in situations like this is to locate the NCAA Consumer Protection Officers at the terminal, and they will ensure that your right to care is protected if the airline delays.”
While the airline’s decision was described as a standard safety protocol, some users on social media voiced concerns.
One user, posting under the handle @NewDawnNaija23, urged the NCAA to investigate the interior conditions of aircraft used by foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
“Not nice at all despite the huge amount of money that they charge,” the user commented.