Airport Disruption: Delta Air Lines Flight to Atlanta Cancelled, Passengers Left Stranded

Passengers scheduled to travel from Nigeria to the United States on Saturday were left stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport after a Delta Air Line flight to Atlanta was cancelled following hours of delay and what travellers described as poor communication from the airline.

The flight, initially slated to depart at 9:45 a.m., was repeatedly postponed before passengers were eventually informed that it would not take off.

One of the affected passengers, Dr. Abayomi Olanipekun, told Prime Business Africa that the experience was both physically and emotionally exhausting.

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“I was supposed to travel by Delta AirLine from Lagos to Atlanta, Georgia. The flight was scheduled for 9:45 a.m. I left my house in Ibadan on Friday for Lagos and as early as 5 a.m. I was at the airport to avoid missing my flight,” he said.

According to him, passengers were not boarded at the scheduled time, with departure first shifted to 11 a.m., then to a few minutes before 1 p.m. It was not until about 2:30 p.m. that boarding eventually commenced.

“While we were on board, I discovered some passengers were not coming in anymore. After some time, they announced that the captain was indisposed as he had not had enough time to rest from his previous flight,” he said.

Shortly afterwards, passengers were informed that the flight had been cancelled.

Passengers Decry Lack of Communication

Passengers criticised the airline for failing to communicate clearly throughout the ordeal.

Another passenger, Maureen, described the chaos as a “circus” on the tarmac. She explained that the fire at Terminal 1 had forced staff to operate manually, delaying boarding and flight preparation.

“This flight was supposed to leave by 9:30 a.m. and it was constantly delayed. They were using only one tarmac because the others had been burnt, so everything had to be done manually. Even the flight manifesto was written by hand, not using the system. They didn’t know the seat mass. I wanted to upgrade my ticket, but they said they couldn’t because they didn’t know what was available,” she said.

Maureen alleged that the airline appeared overbooked and unprepared. “To me that’s overbooking. If you don’t know the number of passengers on a flight, how can you manage it? We were taken to the boarding gate from 9:35 a.m. to 2:55 p.m., going round and round the tarmac first to Airpeace, then to South African Airlines, back to Delta and by the time we were finally to board, they announced the flight was cancelled. If they knew it would be cancelled, why waste our time?” she said.

Passengers were left waiting in extreme heat on the tarmac, sometimes in buses with engines turned off. Maureen recounted:

“We were practically suffocating in a bus under the sun. There were kids, babies, and elderly people who couldn’t even walk. People were thirsty, begging for water. I saw a lady pick up a bottle off the ground just to quench her thirst. Passengers were frustrated, some threatening to beat staff or destroy property. Staffs didn’t give us information, we couldn’t even inform our families properly until when they eventually took us to a hotel,” she said.

Maureen added that some passengers had been coming to the airport daily since Thursday, only to face repeated cancellations. She also noted the additional strain of travelling with a child with special needs:

“I have a special needs child who doesn’t eat regular food. I had to sort him out through all of this. It’s frustrating. It’s beginning to look like someone burnt the server to make money off it,” she said.

Dr. Olanipekun echoed the sentiment, emphasising that lack of communication compounded passenger frustration. “Emergencies happen, but feedback is very necessary. They just kept us stranded with no information at all since morning,” he said.

Airport Fire Adds to Flight Disruptions

The ordeal comes days after a major fire broke out at Terminal 1, the old international terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The blaze, which started on Monday, February 23, 2026, in a server room on the first floor, spread to other parts of the terminal and prompted emergency intervention by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Lagos State Fire Service.

Although no fatalities were recorded, several people sustained minor injuries, and flight operations were significantly disrupted. Only a few international flights, including a Virgin Atlantic service, have departed since the incident. Many airlines have been forced to reschedule or divert flights while Terminal 1 undergoes safety checks and partial restoration.

Aviation authorities have assured the public that flights continue through Terminal 2 and temporary facilities, but travellers have faced long delays and logistical challenges due to the reduced capacity at the airport.

As of the time of filing, Delta Air Line had not issued an official statement regarding Saturday’s cancellation or the allegations raised by passengers.

Amanze Chinonye

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Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.

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Airport Disruption: Delta AirLine Flight to Atlanta Cancelled, Passengers Left Stranded