Passengers stranded as British Airways blocks boarding on Abuja-London flight

British Airways has removed 58 passengers from its Abuja-to-London flight following a technical issue that required the airline to leave some seats vacant.

The incident occurred on Friday and was confirmed by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which stated that the decision was taken purely for safety reasons.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection at NCAA, said in a post on his X handle that “they had to deny 58 passengers boarding this morning.”

He added that affected travelers were offered hotel accommodation, with 30 passengers accepting and 28 choosing to return home.“Arrangements are being made to airlift them tomorrow morning,” Achimugu said, noting that compensation claims can also be filed.

The NCAA spokesman reminded air travelers that “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 described the move as a standard safety measure, some travelers voiced concerns about aircraft conditions.