The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it has arrested a yet-to-be-identified man who climbed onto an aircraft belonging to a domestic operator, Azman Air, while the plane was taxiing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday.
Passengers aboard the Port Harcourt-bound flight were thrown into panic when the man climbed the aircraft while it was about to take off.
According to a viral video shot by one of the passengers in Lagos, the man illegally gained access to the airside with a hand luggage.
The video also showed that the man illegally climbed the aircraft wing and deposited the bag inside one of the engines.
The aircraft was at the holding bay expecting clearance for takeoff when the incident occurred.
The action caused panic and frenzy as some of the passengers immediately demanded the pilot and cabin crew to open the aircraft doors for them to disembark due to safety concerns.
General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu, who confirmed the development to newsmen, said the man had been arrested.
According to her, the stowaway was arrested by Aviation Security Personnel and was taken to Tango City, a FAAN security unit domiciled at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Also, the spokesperson for the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed the development.
Alabi, however, said that the case had not been transferred to the command from the Tango City, adding that further information would be released in due course.