United Nigeria Airlines has acknowledged a clash involving social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, popularly called Mr Jollof.
Gatekeepers News reports that a video of the incident had earlier circulated widely online, showing VDM and Mr Jollof exchanging punches inside the aircraft as disturbed passengers tried to separate them.
United Nigeria Airlines said the confrontation happened on Monday while passengers were boarding flight UN0523 at the Asaba International Airport.
According to Chibuike Uloka, the airline’s public relations officer, the cabin crew intervened immediately and professionally in accordance with international aviation safety standards to contain the situation.
He explained that both passengers were deboarded without delay to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of all other passengers and crew members. They were subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation.
Uloka added that the flight took off as scheduled after routine procedures were completed, leaving the two men in the custody of security personnel.
The airline reiterated that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct that could compromise passenger or crew safety and emphasized its commitment to maintaining a secure and respectful travel environment across all routes.
