NCAA probes airline over poor ventilation

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will open an investigation into reported poor ventilation aboard an airline operating a flight from Abuja to Calabar.

This comes after a passenger complained of bleeding due to excessive heat.

The NCAA spokesperson confirmed the probe 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.