Efforts by crew members to resolve the situation peacefully were unsuccessful, as the individuals forced their way into the section without authorisation.
Security operatives have arrested three passengers, Adedigba Adewale, Ashibogu Magnus, and Iwonze Benjamin, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for allegedly engaging in unruly behaviour aboard an Air Peace flight from London.
The incident began when two of the passengers, despite holding economy tickets, attempted to sit in the business class section, The PUNCH reports.
Efforts by crew members to resolve the situation peacefully were unsuccessful, as the individuals forced their way into the section without authorisation.
A witness stated that the situation escalated when the passengers threatened to cause chaos, creating tension among other travellers.
They were also seen openly consuming alcohol they had unlawfully brought onto the flight, further aggravating the disturbance.
Air Peace spokesperson, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, confirmed to the newspaper on Thursday that the flight captain briefly left the cockpit to assess the situation before returning as a precautionary measure.
“Recognising the potential threat, the flight crew notified security agencies in Nigeria ahead of arrival. Upon landing, law enforcement officials were on the ground to apprehend the individuals who were taken into custody for further investigations.
“To the glory of God, none of our crew members sustained any form of injury, they only engaged in a verbal altercation.
“It is important to note that at Air Peace, our commitment to passenger safety and adherence to global aviation standards is second to none,” he stated.
The airline’s spokesperson further emphasised that “any form of disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated,” assuring the public of the airline’s continuous efforts to maintain security and order on all flights.
The flight crew’s professionalism in handling the situation was also commended.