Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on Friday criticised Senator Adams Oshiomhole for the way he conducted himself at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
The operators described the incident as unacceptable and part of a growing pattern of unruly behaviour among local passengers.
The incident, which happened on Wednesday, involved Oshiomhole and Air Peace airline.
The group representing Nigerian airlines said such behaviour affects airline staff and disrupts normal operations.
They also expressed concern that two days after the incident, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had not explained what occurred.
Speaking during an event in Lagos where United Nigeria Airlines announced its entry into the Sabre Global Distribution System, AON’s spokesperson, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, said passengers’ rights are protected but must follow rules set by international aviation bodies.
He warned that frustration does not give any passenger the right to act out or attack an airline’s image, especially one like Air Peace, which carries a large portion of domestic passengers and has made major investments in the sector.
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Okonkwo described Oshiomhole’s reaction as baseless and lacking proper reasoning, adding that no airline would deliberately abandon its passengers, as they face many challenges to meet their customers’ needs.
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has directed aviation authorities to look into the matter.
He revealed that he had already spoken with both parties and urged caution in passing judgement.
Keyamo said a full investigation must be carried out, with all evidence submitted to his office to ensure proper handling of the case and prevent similar events in the future.
