The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has described the recent incident between Adams Oshiomhole, the former Edo State Governor and current senator representing Edo North and Air Peace Airline recently.

Air Peace on Wednesday had stated that its flight operations was disrupted after the prominent Nigerian politician who missed his flight, resorted to violence, physically assaulting its staff and forcefully barricading the terminal?s entrance.

The airline, said the politician arrived at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) at approximately 06:10 AM for Flight P47120 scheduled to depart Lagos for Abuja at 06:30 AM.

In line with the airline?s standard on-time departure policy, the boarding process had closed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician was said to resort to violence, physically assaulting its staff and forcefully barricading the terminal?s entrance.

However, Oshiomhole denied the allegations alleging that he rejected preferential treatment and stood up against what he described as systemic extortion and poor customer service by the Nigerian airline.

He said his recent experiences with Air Peace highlighted the growing impunity and disregard for passengers? rights in the country?s aviation sector.

However in a press conference in Lagos on Friday, Obiora Okonkwo, the Founder of United Nigeria Airlines and spokesperson for Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), said that such actions violate national aviation regulations and could endanger lives if not checked early.

He called on the security arm of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) AVSEC to explain their role and justify the security fee airlines pay.

?We pay for AVSEC services. Were they asleep during this disruption? Airlines are being sabotaged at both ends?by passengers and system failure,? he added.

He insisted that FAAN must clarify the Oshiomhole incident to ensure public trust in airport operations is not further eroded.

He expressed concern over FAAN?s continuous silence in such an event and urged the authority, as landlord of the airport terminals, to provide video evidence and a timeline of events from its surveillance systems.

According to him, FAAN?s silence has deepened confusion, and the agency must present its version based on CCTV footage and on-ground security reports.

He stated that the aviation community cannot operate in an environment where terminal disruptions go unexplained and social media versions dominate public opinion.

?We are disappointed that FAAN has not released their side of the story. This is not just about Air Peace?it could happen to any operator. It?s about aviation safety, security, and order,? Okonkwo said.

He hinted that the AON is already consulting with Air Peace over the legal classification of the incident. He affirmed that no passenger, regardless of status, is exempt from accountability under aviation law.

?For us, an unruly passenger is an unruly passenger,? he said. ?No matter who you are, legal consequences will follow. We are in active consultation with Air Peace to decide next steps. This must not be swept under the carpet.?

He also revealed that on the same day as the incident, Air Peace suffered two bird strikes in separate locations. These operational hazards, he said, combined with terminal disorder, jeopardise schedule integrity and inflame tensions among passengers.

?When people see delays, they don?t ask why. But here we are?unruly behaviour, AVSEC?s inaction, and two bird strikes. How do we keep the operation intact?? Okonkwo asked.

According to him, Nigeria?s airlines work under intense pressure, bending backwards to satisfy passengers even when resources are stretched thin.

?We?re doing our best. But this kind of disruption is not sustainable. It could have escalated and endangered lives,? he warned.

He said online check-in does not exempt passengers from physical reporting, luggage inspection, and final manifest documentation.

?If your flight is at 6:30 a.m., the aircraft should be airborne by that time?not started boarding,? he explained. ?Manifest data must be submitted 45 minutes before departure. Passengers arriving at 6:30 are late and have missed their flight.?

He said Air Peace followed standard protocol and was unfairly maligned by the confrontation and media fallout. He also condemned attempts to demonize the airline, noting that the matter went beyond flight punctuality and into the realm of passenger aggression.

Okonkwo further condemned the growing entitlement of high-profile passengers who ignore aviation rules, stressing that VIPs would never attempt such disruptive conduct outside Nigeria without facing consequences. (BusinessDay)

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