Dana Airline reacts as passenger goes violent, destroys check-in systems

A Dana Air passenger on Sunday went violent destroying the airline’s check-in systems and other equipments while also allegedly attacking the station manager at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. 

The passenger, Dr. Chike Okogwu, a person with Disability (PWD) was seen in a viral video destroying facilities at the airline’s counter in a fist of anger.

• Dana Air resumes Enugu flights
• Senate passes N13.5 trillion 2021 budget

Okogwu had taken to his Twitter handle @chikeiq on Monday morning to narrate his experience, saying he was denied boarding despite meeting all the conditions.

“This is indeed the height of discrimination against persons with Disabilities in Nig. I booked a 7:20PM flight from Abj-Lag which was rescheduled to 9.05PM.

“I got my boarding pass only for DanaAir to say a new policy forbids carryn us with wheelchr,” he wrote on his Twitter page.

@DanaAir @hadisirika @fccpcnigeria This is indeed the height of discrimination against persons with Disabilities in Nig. I booked a 7:20PM flight from Abj-Lag which was reschdld to 9.05PM. I got my boarding pass only for DanaAir to say a new policy forbids carryn us with wheelchr pic.twitter.com/CqrB4FunoY

— Dr. Chike OKOGWU. (@chikeiq) December 20, 2020

Dana Air reacts

Kingsley Ezenwa, spokesman of the airline said, “To put the issue into proper perspective, the said passenger (a PWD Person With Disability) who we regard as Special Passengers at Dana Air, got to our counter yesterday, 20th December 2020 at about 8pm for his flight and when our Duty Manager noticed him in the midst of the upsurge of passengers, approached him and politely explained to him that as a matter of policy, comfort and safety of our guests, we do not carry Special Passengers at night while offering to check him in first, on the 7am flight the next day.

“The said passenger blatantly refused the offer and went violent on the Duty Manager causing her injuries in the process.

“This same passenger also went further to destroy our check-in systems, chairs,  Covid-19 Protective glass shields and weighing machines at our counter in Abuja. ( We have our video evidence).

“Dr Chike Okogwu has enjoyed the luxury of flying with us for many years even as other airlines have totally refused to even sell tickets to him as a result of his reputation of verbally attacking able-bodied staff assigned to assist him whenever he is flying.

“Apart from this reason why other airlines avoid him, Dr Chike knows that Dana Air is among the few airlines that accepts Persons with Disability with a policy which we expect them to follow strictly in their own interest and in the interest of safety.

“While we acknowledge and regret  the frustrations of our guests at this time and working round the clock to resolve the undesirable issues our guests are experiencing, we wish to state without an iota of doubt that Dana Air has never, and will never as a brand; discriminate against ANY passenger no matter the circumstance.

“Dana Air will also not tolerate any acts of violence against any of her staff, passengers or property and as a law abiding corporate citizen of Nigeria, we urge Dr. Chike Okogwu to be civil in his engagements as everything we do at Dana Air will always be in the interest of safety.”