The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed on Wednesday that Delta Air Lines has formally apologized for its handling of a recent incident involving a Nigerian passenger, who was reportedly delayed and poorly treated during a flight.
In a tweet on X, Mr. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at NCAA, stated that Delta acknowledged the shortcomings during a virtual meeting held earlier that afternoon with the NCAA. “The airline, Delta, has apologised to both the passenger and the NCAA via a virtual meeting this afternoon. They have admitted the poor handling of the situation and are working on appropriate compensations for passengers affected by this flight,” he wrote.
Achimugu commended Delta for taking responsibility for the incident, though he stressed that such errors should not become a recurring issue. “I commend the Delta team for taking responsibility for a shortcoming that was avoidable, but does happen every once in a while. We have asked that the compensations be transacted within a stipulated time frame, and a compliance report sent to the authority,” he added.
The apology comes after Delta was criticized for delaying a Nigerian passenger—an NCAA staff member—on a flight from Lagos. According to Achimugu, the delays included a lengthy tarmac wait in Atlanta, which caused the passenger to miss a connecting flight. Subsequent arrangements resulted in an almost seven-hour layover, during which the passenger was denied hotel accommodation or lounge access, leaving them to endure an uncomfortable wait.
Earlier this weekend, Achimugu had warned Delta that the NCAA would not tolerate any mistreatment of Nigerian passengers. The authority continues to monitor the situation closely to ensure that passengers’ rights are upheld and that compensation is processed promptly.
The NCAA reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of all stakeholders, including airline passengers, as it awaits a full compliance report from Delta Air Lines.
