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Worst Passenger of the Week: The One-Man Blockade Who Played Chicken With Jets

Jeff Edwards March 06, 2015

Every Friday, FlyerTalk looks back at the week’s most charming individuals. While there are always plenty of contenders for our Worst Passenger of the Week award, only one lucky flyer can take home the glory.

The Winner — The One-Man Blockade Who Played Chicken With Jets

Learning that your flight is cancelled can raise the ire of even seasoned travelers, but most experienced flyers know that getting angry won’t accomplish anything in these situations. As a general rule of thumb, passengers are at the mercy of the airlines, but this week, one delayed passenger in Nigeria turned his impotent rage into concrete action.

According to DailyMail, when an unnamed man at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV) learned that his Arik Air flight to Sokoto would not take off, he took steps to ensure he wouldn’t be the only one inconvenienced. The stranded passenger reportedly vented his frustrations by gathering his luggage and relocating to the airport runway, where he proceeded to block at least two other flights from taking off.

Eyewitnesses report the man vs. machine standoff lasted nearly two hours before ABV security showed up to deal with the disgruntled man in the center of the runway. In the meantime, passengers onboard an Arik Air flight bound for Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) were forced to deplane while the pilot attempted to coax the irate man into clearing off the runway.

They had to disembark us. No Arik flight leaving abuja. @lindaikeji pic.twitter.com/ZOQZBeni7e

— CedaR C. ChinwubA (@iamcedar) March 1, 2015

Cedar Chinwuba, a passenger onboard the LOS-bound flight, live tweeted the ordeal. Chinwuba told DailyMail he was more upset about the lack of response from authorities and airline officials than by the man’s outrageous actions.

“Only in Nigeria issues like this happen and [Nigeria Airport Authority officials] never get penalized,” said Chinwuba. “It worries me as an airport user.”

[Photo: Cedar Chinwuba via Twitter]