NCAA probes airline over poor ventilation after passenger bleeds

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has said it will investigate reported poor ventilation aboard an airline operating a flight from Abuja to Calabar after a passenger complained of bleeding due to excessive heat.

The NCAA spokesperson stated this on Tuesday while reacting to a tweet by one Bashir Usman, who recounted his experience aboard the flight on Monday, October 26, 2026.

Usman had stated that he, alongside other travellers, boarded the airline at 12:07 pm, lamenting that they stayed onboard for about 50 minutes “without the engines running and, sadly, without functioning air conditioning.”

Usman noted that after some time, he started bleeding due to the “unbearable” heat.

He later revealed that they arrived in Calabar at 2:04 pm for a flight with a scheduled duration of just 45 minutes, as he described the experience as “distressing.”

While expressing appreciation to some persons on the flight who came to his rescue, Usman added that the crew ordered him to disembark due to the bleeding, but he maintained that he was fine.

“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.

“When the crew approached me and said I would have to be disembarked because of the bleeding, ostensibly to avoid a medical emergency onboard, I repeatedly told them I was fine. However, many of you spoke up, expressed your displeasure over the unbearable heat and lack of ventilation, and showed genuine concern for my well-being.

“Some of you took turns fanning me, while one particularly kind lady gave me her personal mini hand fan. Your support meant so much to me. Following your intervention, I was allowed to remain on board.

“We eventually arrived in Calabar at 2:04 p.m. For a flight with a scheduled duration of just 45 minutes, the experience was particularly distressing, especially after the prolonged wait inside an aircraft without functioning air conditioning,” Usman’s tweet read.

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He added that “to everyone who travelled with me on the Abuja–Calabar flight yesterday, 26 October, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your kindness, solidarity and humanity.”

However, in a follow-up tweet, Achimugu revealed that he and Usman had talked over the phone and expressed his sympathy over the incident.

Achimugu, however, said he would forward the situation report to the NCAA’s Directorate of Operations, Licensing, and Training Standards for investigation.

“Now that you have also told me the name of the airline, I am escalating this to the NCAA’s Directorate of Operations, Licensing, and Training Standards, DOLTS. This is their purview,” he wrote.

Achimugu said the authority would seek to establish why the aircraft’s doors were shut without functioning air conditioning or ventilation, based on Usman’s account.

“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. If true, and more so because you also assert that no apology or explanation was offered by the flight crew for the duration of the delay and even after the flight arrived at the destination, then a determination would be made by that Directorate,” he stated.

The NCAA spokesperson also cautioned passengers against preventing cabin crew members from carrying out their safety responsibilities.

His tweet read, “Again, I empathise with you over the experience that led to your bleeding. I am glad that you are okay now. You have explained that heat triggers this situation for you, and it has been that way since you were a child. This is well understood.

“However, from the cabin crew’s perspective, they were following due process and ensuring the safety of the passengers who thought they were heroes by stopping cabin crew from doing their job. You knew it was heat stroke. They did not know that. You may have needed immediate medical attention, and the difference between life and death might have been the little time that the others spent preventing airline personnel from doing their job. Especially with the recent Ebola scare, cabin crew are expected to be vigilant. They were doing their job.

“Finally, passengers should understand that not everything should be approached with emotions. They cannot stop cabin crew from doing their job. That crew is there to ensure your safety, not antagonise you. The crew was lenient. Some other captains would refuse to fly that bird until you were removed for a proper check, especially because he was responsible for the safety of ALL of the other passengers.”