The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has emphasised the importance of passengers adhering to aviation safety rules and instructions from cabin crew, following recent incidents involving Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) and a female passenger on an Ibom Air flight.
NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, stressed that passengers must always obey cabin crew instructions to ensure safety on board.
Achimugu said this when he featured on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, saying the rules exist to protect all passengers
“You must always obey the cabin crew when you are aboard an airline. You don’t make the rules for safety in aviation,” he said.
Achimugu further described the recent incidents as “very avoidable” and warned that disobedience could have serious consequences, including being blacklisted by airlines.
While the NCAA doesn’t have the power to prosecute, airlines reserve the right to blacklist passengers deemed a risk.
“You are not permitted to hit anybody. You are not permitted to disobey the cabin crew while aboard an aircraft,” Achimugu added.
The NCAA can mediate disputes between passengers and airlines, especially when matters go to court.
Achimugu assured that passengers could file complaints with the NCAA, which would be addressed accordingly.
He stressed the need for mutual respect between passengers and crew, noting that the NCAA has intensified awareness campaigns on aviation rules.
He reminded passengers to switch off their phones when instructed, as it prevents possible interference with aircraft communication systems.
“Passengers seem more obsessed with their rights than their responsibilities,” he said.
The NCAA banned KWAM 1 for six months over unruly behavior at the Abuja airport.
A viral video showed an altercation between an Ibom Air passenger and a staff member, leading to a ban on the passenger. Achimugu explained that the decision to ban passengers rests solely with individual airlines.
