XEJet passengers stranded for over six hours at Lagos airport due to delays, technical issues, and regulatory checks on Lagos–Abuja flight

Passengers on an Enugu-bound XEJet flight were left stranded for more than six hours on Saturday following a series of delays that caused confusion and frustration at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

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The Lagos–Abuja service, originally scheduled to depart at 9:30 a.m., was first postponed to 1:00 p.m., leaving passengers who had already arrived at the airport in limbo.

Boarding finally began at 1:30 p.m., but travellers said they were made to wait outside the aircraft for about 30 minutes without explanation.

A passenger told Daily Sun that the airline failed to provide clear information at every stage. “We got to the aircraft, and they just kept us standing there. Nobody told us what was happening,” the traveller said.

After boarding, delays continued as airline staff explained that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had instructed the crew to wait while certain documents were processed. The captain later confirmed the same information.

The situation escalated when passengers were informed that a waste-disposal hose attached to the aircraft had become stuck, preventing takeoff. After nearly two hours of waiting, several frustrated passengers disembarked, demanding a replacement aircraft.

At around 3 p.m., airline representative N.P. Ogeke addressed passengers, stating the issue had been resolved. “The problem was that the hose got stuck to the plane, but it has been resolved,” she said.

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The flight eventually departed at approximately 4:00 p.m., according to a traveller. It was also reported that XEJet had previously cancelled its 9:00 a.m. flight on Wednesday, November 19, leaving passengers stranded earlier in the week.