The NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, disclosed the planned investigation on Tuesday while responding to a post by passenger Bashir Usman, who recounted his experience aboard the flight on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Usman said passengers boarded the aircraft at 12:07 p.m. but remained inside for about 50 minutes after the doors were shut, allegedly without the engines running or the air-conditioning system functioning.
He described the heat as unbearable and said he eventually began bleeding, prompting members of the cabin crew to consider removing him from the aircraft.
According to Usman, the crew raised concerns about his condition, but he maintained that he was fine. Other passengers reportedly intervened, with some fanning him and one woman lending him a personal mini fan. He said he was eventually allowed to remain on board.
The passenger added that the aircraft arrived in Calabar at 2:04 p.m., despite the flight having a scheduled duration of approximately 45 minutes. He described the experience as distressing and thanked fellow passengers for their support.
NCAA Refers Incident for Investigation
In a follow-up response, Achimugu said he had spoken with Usman by telephone and expressed sympathy over the incident.
He said the matter would be referred to the NCAA’s Directorate of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards (DOLTS) to establish what happened.
Achimugu said the authority would seek to determine why the aircraft’s doors were allegedly shut while its air-conditioning or ventilation system was not functioning, particularly amid high temperatures.
He added that the investigation would also consider Usman’s claim that the crew did not provide an apology or explanation for the delay.
Achimugu stressed that the NCAA would make a determination after the relevant directorate had examined the circumstances surrounding the incident.
NCAA Defends Crew’s Safety Responsibilities
While expressing concern over Usman’s experience, the NCAA spokesperson cautioned passengers against preventing cabin crew members from carrying out their safety duties.
Achimugu said the crew could not have known the cause of the passenger’s bleeding or whether he required urgent medical attention, even though Usman reportedly understood that heat could trigger the condition.
He argued that the crew had a responsibility to assess the situation and protect everyone on board, adding that the recent Ebola concerns further underscored the need for vigilance when passengers displayed possible signs of illness.
Achimugu said some captains might have insisted that a passenger be removed for medical assessment before allowing the flight to proceed, given their responsibility for the safety of all passengers.
The NCAA’s planned investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported ventilation failure, the prolonged wait inside the aircraft and the handling of the passenger’s condition.
