Cynthia Ezegwu
A dramatic scene unfolded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Sunday, when two adult sisters engaged in a physical fight after missing their scheduled United Airlines flight.
Eyewitnesses said the altercation began shortly after the sisters arrived late at the terminal, only to discover that the boarding gate had already closed. The disagreement reportedly started as an argument over who was responsible for the delay but soon escalated into a violent confrontation.
According to reports, the women threw punches and hurled insults at each other, scattering their luggage and personal belongings across the terminal and disrupting airport operations.
Security personnel from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security Department quickly intervened and took the sisters to the airport’s interrogation office. However, the fight resumed during questioning, leading to one of the women collapsing and losing consciousness.
The incident prompted panic among airport staff, who immediately called for medical assistance. An ambulance was requested to transport the unconscious woman to a nearby hospital, but her sister reportedly resisted, claiming the issue was “spiritual” rather than medical.
Despite her objections, the unconscious sister was taken to the FAAN clinic, where she is receiving medical attention. Her current condition remains unclear.
READ ALSO: FAAN Arrests Two Travellers at Lagos Airport for Failing to Declare Millions in Cash
Confirming the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), the spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Michael Achimugu, said the sisters’ fight caused chaos at the terminal before security officials restored order.
“Perhaps one of them blamed her sibling for missing the flight, but these two siblings began to fight each other. They scattered luggage and other items before being dragged to the interrogation office by airport security. Inside, they began to fight again until one of them fainted,” Achimugu said.
He added that the unconscious sister was receiving care at the FAAN clinic, expressing hope for her recovery.
The incident occurred despite regulations under Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Act, which require passengers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled departure time.