Two South Africa Returnees Face Prosecution Over Mid-Air Smoking, Disruptive Conduct

July 10 () — The Nigeria Police Force is set to arraign two Nigerian returnees from South Africa for allegedly smoking cigarettes aboard an Air Peace flight to Lagos and engaging in disruptive conduct that triggered the aircraft’s smoke detection alarm and caused panic among passengers and crew.

The suspects, identified as Enaruna Aghama, 51, and Tony Ajayi, 41, were arrested after the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on Thursday, and are expected to be charged before a court upon the conclusion of police investigations.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the spokesperson for the Lagos Airport Police Command, Superintendent of Police Mohammed Adeola, preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred at about 7:44 p.m. on July 9, 2026, while the Air Peace flight was travelling from South Africa to Lagos.

Adeola said the two passengers allegedly lit cigarettes and smoked inside the aircraft in violation of aviation safety regulations, an action that activated the aircraft’s smoke detection and emergency alarm system.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that at about 1944hrs on 9th July, 2026, while aboard an Air Peace flight from South Africa to Lagos, the suspects lit and smoked cigarettes inside the aircraft, an action which activated the aircraft’s smoke detection and emergency alarm system, causing panic and anxiety among passengers and cabin crew”, the statement read.

He added that upon arrival at the Lagos airport, Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) handed the suspects over to officers of the International Airport Police Division for further investigation.

Police further disclosed that the suspects were also in possession of alcoholic beverages during the flight and allegedly became uncooperative and verbally abusive when members of the cabin crew attempted to enforce safety regulations and de-escalate the situation.

According to the Command, the passengers’ conduct further disrupted the orderly operation of the flight and constituted a serious breach of aviation safety protocols.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, condemned the suspects’ actions, describing any conduct capable of compromising aviation safety or disrupting the orderly operation of an aircraft as unacceptable.

She reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to the strict enforcement of aviation security laws and the protection of passengers, crew members and other airport users in accordance with relevant aviation regulations and the FAAN By-Laws.

Olufunke also urged travellers to comply with all lawful directives issued by airline operators and aviation personnel, stressing that discipline and adherence to safety rules are shared responsibilities essential to ensuring safe and secure air travel.

The police said Aghama and Ajayi would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction after the conclusion of investigations.