Fifty-eight passengers scheduled to fly from Abuja to London on a British Airways flight were denied boarding on Friday due to a faulty aircraft door, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed.

In a statement on X, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, explained that safety requirements obliged the airline to keep seats near the faulty door vacant.

“The actual problem was a faulty door. The seats around it had to remain unoccupied for safety reasons. Consequently, 58 passengers were unable to board this morning,” Achimugu said.

He noted that hotel accommodation had been provided, with 30 passengers accepting the offer while 28 opted to return home. Arrangements have been made to airlift the affected passengers on Saturday morning, he added.

The NCAA spokesman advised passengers facing similar situations to immediately contact the authority’s Consumer Protection Officers at airport terminals. “They will ensure that your right to care is protected in cases of delay,” he said.

While the decision followed standard aviation safety protocols, some Nigerians expressed frustration online. One X user, @NewDawnNaija23, urged regulators to also review the condition of aircraft interiors operated by foreign airlines in Nigeria, noting: “Not nice at all, despite the huge amounts of money they charge.”