The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it will pursue sanctions against VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof following a violent physical altercation between them aboard a commercial flight.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, sent shockwaves online after a video showing the comedian and social media activist trading blows inside an airplane cabin went viral.
In the footage, the duo can be seen engaged in a heated fistfight as alarmed fellow passengers scramble to pull them apart.
Weighing in on the situation in an X post, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, condemned the brawl as unruly behaviour that endangered the safety of everyone on board.
He confirmed that the agency is treating the matter with utmost seriousness, noting that the involved airline is required to formally report the incident to the NCAA.
VDM and Mr Jollof. I had just boarded a flight and about to take off when I was tagged to a video post about a rage incident between VDM and Mr. Jollof, two social media influencers who should know better than the unacceptable behaviour and subsequent gloating video made by one of the individuals, he wrote.
Because the aircraft was about to push back for taxiing, and I needed to switch off my phone, I quickly asked the poster for two basic details so that I could quickly forward a screenshot to our CPOs to investigate and get me details which would help me do my job on arrival at transit airport.
I just arrived at the transit airport to find my comment riddled with chaotic insults and labels by people who think that asking questions of the same social media folk who I attend to, day and night, on social media, is an aberration. I will ignore those insults for now.
Procedurally, the airline should report the incident to the NCAA, and my department would forward to legal for advise and appropriate action/advise. Since I have not received such a report yet, I will say this before I board my connecting flight.
Achimugu expressed particular dismay that the individuals involved are “partners in educating their millions of followers, making their conduct especially shameful.
There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law. It is even more shameful when one considers both of them partners in educating their millions of followers to avoid unruly behavior, he added.
He also raised a critical question about the flight’s protocol, questioning whether the pilot had the two combatants removed from the aircraft before departure.
While waiting for information (I have reached out to our staff for details now that I am on ground), one wonders if the pilot had both passengers deplaned or if they were flown to destination. If it was the latter, there will be consequences, he said.
The actions of both men put the safety of all other passengers and the crew at risk. It also put the safety of the aircraft at risk. The NCAA has exerted a lot of energy and resources in educating passengers about the dangers of unruly behaviour and its consequences.
In this case, no matter what led to the fracas, there is no excuse that makes it acceptable. Subject to the speed of information, I will put out a proper statement before boarding my next flight. Otherwise, I will do so on arrival at destination.
