A French passenger who was caught without a Nigerian visa has been sedated and returned to his home state in Paris, Charles de Gaulle, after disrupting flight operations in Abuja and engaging airportw officials combatively.
The unruly passenger flew into the country through Air France two days ago but was denied entry after he was discovered to have visited without a visa.
It was gathered that the unnamed passenger caused security and diplomatic concerns at the airport, forcing immigration officers to disembark him from an Air France flight and restricting his access to the boarding area over his unruly behaviour.
However, in his latest post on his X handle, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, on Friday, said the passenger had been sedated by medical practitioners and airlifted back to his country.
Achimugu, who said he was monitoring the passengers’ onboarding at 10 p.m. on Thursday, thanked airport staff, particularly the Abuja airport immigration commandant, Mr. Agada, and others.
The NCAA publicist said, “Examined by a doctor and placed on a sedative, the unruly French national has finally boarded an Air France flight to CDG, Paris.
”I was physically present to witness his boarding at 10 pm on Thursday, along with the very capable terminal head, Miriam Anosike, who did a yeoman’s job in this case, Ifueko Abdulmalik, and gallant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
“I must mention that the immigration commander at the airport, Mr. Agada, was very cooperative. His willingness to collaborate was the glue that held all of this together.”
Achimugu added, “We advised the airline to let the cabin crew have some of the administered sedatives in case the passenger displays any disruptive behaviour during the course of the flight.
“Kudos to both the NCAA, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Air France station manager, who did an amazing job of attending to the passengers.”
