Passenger bleeds after 50-minute wait in hot aircraft, NCAA investigates

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched an investigation into reports of poor ventilation aboard an airline operating an Abuja-Calabar flight after a passenger said he began bleeding while enduring excessive heat inside the aircraft.

The incident occurred on Monday, October 26, 2026, after passengers reportedly spent about 50 minutes onboard without the engines running or the air-conditioning system functioning.

Bashir Usman, who shared his experience on social media, said he and other travellers boarded the aircraft at 12:07 pm but were left in uncomfortable conditions as they waited for the flight to proceed.

Usman described the heat as unbearable, saying he eventually started bleeding during the wait.

The passenger later disclosed that the aircraft arrived in Calabar at 2:04 pm, despite the flight having a scheduled duration of just 45 minutes.

He described the experience as distressing and expressed appreciation to fellow passengers who came to his assistance.

According to his account, the crew subsequently instructed him to disembark because he was bleeding, although he maintained that he was fine.

The complaint prompted the NCAA to respond on Tuesday, confirming that it would investigate the reported ventilation problem and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The investigation is expected to examine the reported failure of the aircraft’s air-conditioning system, the prolonged wait onboard and the handling of the affected passenger.

The airline involved had not been identified in the available report, and no findings from the NCAA’s investigation had been announced as of Tuesday.