A desperate Nigerian stowaway delayed a flight in the commercial capital Lagos after he was spotted on the wing of a plane taxiing for takeoff.

The local flight is operated by Air Azman and was heading to the southeastern Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt.

The unidentified man was sighted trying to climb into the aircraft that was waiting for clearance from Air Traffic Controllers.

The pilot of the plane reported the incident to the aviation security, Avsec, and the man was immediately arrested.

The plane taxied back to the ramp for a thorough check and continued with its trip to Port Harcourt.

capital Lagos after he was spotted on the wing of a plane taxiing for takeoff.

Passengers aboard the Air Azman expressed concern over the incident and shared their stories on social media.

Otto Orondaam, a passenger, wrote on his Instagram: “How it happened!! So our flight was taxing on the runway and about taking off when this man shows up running towards the moving aircraft from the bush.

“The pilot and a few passengers spotted him running towards the aircraft and the pilot immediately slowed down and quickly put off the engine. The guy approaches the plane with gloves and starts walking around and under the aircraft holding a bag which he dropped inside the engine.

Thanks to the Pilot of the Azman Airline for quickly observing and taking swift action.. I still have a million and one questions to ask cos anything could have gone wrong.”

A statement from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, called the incident “a regrettable airside incursion” and said it was probing the incident.

“Following the unfortunate airside incursion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos today, July 19, 2019, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has suspended indefinitely the Aviation Security unit heads who were on duty when the incident occured, pending completion of ongoing investigation into the regrettable security infringement,” the statement said.