NCAA Opens Investigation Into British Airways Over Alleged Three-Day Flight Hold-Up

NCAA Opens Investigation Into British Airways Over Alleged Three-Day Flight Hold-Up

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated an investigation into British Airways following reports of persistent departure delays over a span of three days……CONTINUE READING 

Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at NCAA, confirmed that the UK airline has consistently delayed departures since August 27.

As part of the investigation, the NCAA will conduct inspections of all British Airways aircraft operating on Nigerian routes to ensure regulatory compliance under its Foreign Aircraft Safety Assessment Programme (FASAP).

These delays have caused significant inconvenience to travelers, prompting the NCAA to take action. “The NCAA has contacted British Airways and launched an investigation to determine the root cause of these frequent delays. We will take appropriate measures to protect passenger rights and prevent further occurrences,” Achimugu stated.

The NCAA assured the public that it remains committed to safeguarding the rights of travelers in line with the policy of the Honourable Minister of Aviation to eliminate unnecessary flight delays.

In a related development, passengers of Qatar Airways faced a similar ordeal at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday when their flight was aborted due to a punctured tire.

Godwin, a staff member of Qatar Airways, explained that flight QR 1432, which was scheduled to depart for Doha, encountered the issue while taxiing to the runway after picking up a nail that deflated one of the front tires. “We apologize for the inconvenience. We are currently in the final stages of repairing the tire. As part of maintenance, both front tires need to be replaced. We should be done shortly,” he told the passengers.

One of the stranded passengers, Mr. Umar, expressed concern over the delay, particularly regarding his connecting flights, while another passenger, who preferred to remain anonymous, questioned how such an incident could occur just before takeoff.

When asked about the Qatar Airways incident, the NCAA spokesman stated that he was not yet aware of it but promised to follow up and provide more information.