Kano: Passengers, Azman officials in fisticuffs over flight cancellation

There was pandemonium Friday evening at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano after passengers protested against the cancellation of their flights by Azman Airline.

The protest turned violent with a female staff of the airline collapsing after being hit during the melee.

A passenger was also left with a bloody mouth while another staff had his cloth nearly ripped off his body.

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The melee started when passengers of Kano to Lagos learnt that the flight, which was earlier rescheduled from 7:30am to 8:30pm, would not be departing the airport again.

At the check in station, passengers of the airline for Kano-Abuja, who had earlier been checked in also suffered similar fate as their flights was again rescheduled.

Daily Trust gathered that a similar incident happened Thursday night when an Azman 8:15pm flight from Abuja to Kano was canceled after the plane developed a fault.

It was further gathered that the airline rescheduled the flight without courtesy or apology to passengers from 8:15pm Thursday to 4.30pm Friday.

Passengers were left frustrated and demanded answers but no one was available to talk to them.

They were not offered any accommodation or transportation, it was gathered.

A passenger for the Kano-Lagos flight showed our correspondent similar messages she got from the airline for both the morning and evening cancellation.

The evening message, which was sent after the melee at about 9:20pm, reads: “We regret to inform you that your Azman Air flight ZQ2310 KANO-LAGOS, TODAY 15TH JANUARY, 9:00PM has been rescheduled to depart at 10:30AM on 16th JANUARY due to operational reasons.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused. For more inquiries, contact 09099800600 or [email protected]”.

A female passenger for the Kano-Abuja flight told our correspondent amidst tears that her wedding ceremony will be holding on Saturday in Abuja and she had no idea how she will be meeting up for the ceremony.

Daily Trust reports that there is a 6am-6pm no movement order in Kano on Saturday because of the local government election, thereby, making it almost impossible for passengers to find their way to the airport.