FAAN launches probe as Enugu Air deboards passenger over ‘refusal to switch off phone’

On Monday, a video circulating on X showed security
operatives forcibly removing a passenger from an Enugu Air flight after he
allegedly refused to switch off his mobile phone.

Speaking with TheCable on Tuesday, Obiageli Orah, director
of public affairs and consumer protection at the FAAN, said investigations were
ongoing, but preliminary findings indicated that the incident occurred after
the passenger declined to comply with safety instructions.

“Right now, we are still investigating to get the full
information about what happened,” Orah said.

“So far, what we have gathered is that a passenger was meant
to switch off his mobile phone but he refused to abide by that instruction and
other passengers in the airplane also joined in asking him to turn off his
mobile phone and when he refused to do that, the securities on ground were
alerted.

“Even the passengers were not comfortable with him refusing
to switch off his phone and the securities had to deplane him.

“That is what we have gathered so far but we are still on
that to get the full information.”

The FAAN spokesperson said the flight, which was scheduled
to depart Enugu for Lagos, could not proceed until the unruly passenger was
removed.

“He became unruly and the pilot had to report the matter to
the controller,” she said.

“What is interesting is that other passengers in the
aircraft were quite uncomfortable with the non-compliance of the passenger and
they even joined in asking him to turn off his phone. The aircraft had to go
back to deplane him.”

This is coming weeks after the Nigeria Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) directed that all mobile phones must be completely switched
off during flight take-off and landing.

The directive followed a recent air rage incident involving
Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of unruly behaviour on an Ibom Air flight
from Uyo to Lagos.