The NCAA fined Qatar Airways ₦5 million after a Nigerian couple experienced a nightmare during their flight.
At first, a cabin crew member accused the male passenger of behaving inappropriately while boarding at Lagos airport.
However, the airline only reported the allegation upon arrival in Doha, which led authorities to arrest him, detain him for 18 hours, and impose a hefty fine.
Passenger Forced To Act
Moreover, officials forced him to sign a document written entirely in Arabic, which he could not understand.
Afterward, Qatar Airways refused to transport him to his final destination, forcing him to purchase new tickets at considerable personal cost.
NCAA Takes Action On Qatar Airways
As a result, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) highlighted a pattern of disrespect by the airline toward Nigerian passengers and aviation regulations.
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Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, explained that repeated attempts to resolve the issue failed because the airline’s country manager avoided meetings and repeatedly sent subordinates instead.
“This behaviour stops now,” Achimugu declared.
“Passengers deserve respect, dignified treatment, and full compliance with Part 19 regulations.”
Furthermore, the NCAA warned Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Airlines after identifying similar infractions, emphasising that Nigeria’s robust consumer protection framework requires full compliance.
Consequently, the fine sends a clear message: the NCAA will actively enforce passenger rights and no longer tolerate regulatory disregard.
