Saudi Airlines has come under heavy criticism after leaving 401 passengers bound for Kano stranded at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for nearly 48 hours, raising concerns over passenger safety and airline accountability.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that severe weather conditions in Kano forced the airline to divert its flights to Abuja.
However, the regulator said Saudi Airlines did not make adequate arrangements to transport passengers to their final destination.
In a statement on his verified X handle, NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu described the incident as “one of the most intense moments” of his career.
“I had to turn back from my way to the barber’s shop after receiving reports of a valid threat of extreme violence from stranded passengers,” Achimugu said.
“I found myself in the middle of over 200 angry passengers, many of whom had no information about when or how they would continue to Kano. Managing the situation required tact, firmness, and teamwork, but it was certainly risky.”
Achimugu recounted a tense encounter with one passenger who threatened him, adding, “Initially, I was angry, but I could see his fear and decided to handle him differently. By the end, we were talking calmly, and he even invited me to his residence in Lagos.”
While acknowledging that Saudi Airlines has no operational base in Abuja, NCAA noted that other airlines diverted for similar weather-related reasons but made alternative arrangements for their passengers.
The stranded travelers were eventually flown to Kano in three batches by UMZA Airlines. The first flight carried 74 passengers, the second had 73, and the final flight transported 34 passengers, totaling 189 passengers successfully relocated.
NCAA said Saudi Airlines has committed to compensating the affected passengers.
“What started as a force majeure incident turned into a case of poor passenger handling but ended with effective teamwork from the Minister down to our Consumer Protection Officers,” Achimugu said.
Attempts to contact Saudi Airlines were unsuccessful, as the airline does not have a presence or office in Nigeria, and emails sent to the airline remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
