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Anthony Ufoh
The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, has urged airlines operating within the nation’s airspace to blacklist uncontrollable passengers.
Achimugu made this statement on Wednesday based on the recent events, especially the one that involved the Fuji Maestro, KWAM 1, who blocked the runway following his non-admittance to board a ValueJet Airlines morning flight (Flight VK 201) to Lagos.
The other case involved a lady, Comfort Emmasson, who had an altercation with an Ibom Air flight attendant after she was instructed to switch off her phone, which it was reported she declined, and this led to a scuffle when the passengers were disembarking, which led to her being almost stripped naked.
He said, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has advised airlines to blacklist unruly passengers to serve as a deterrent to others.” Achimugu explained that the directive formed part of wider regulatory issues discussed with airlines, including unruly passenger behaviour, passenger handling protocols, unresolved refunds and compensation, the planned introduction of RFID bag tags and flight monitoring technology, enforcement of in-flight phone switch-off rules, protection for cabin crew, and measures to improve passengers’ overall travel experience.
Airlines represented at the meeting included Arik Air, Ibom Air, Aero Contractors, United Nigeria, Green Africa, Max Air, Rano Air, ValueJet, Air Peace, and Overland Airways. Achimugu expressed concern that many airlines were reluctant to take firm action against disruptive passengers despite repeated complaints.
The statement continued, “Passengers are obsessed with rights but not responsibilities. We will continue to educate to make sure this situation changes. We are also insisting that airlines retain their cabin and flight crews, but we must also protect their rights. Airline staff must be treated with dignity and respect. Paying for a service doesn’t give you the right to assault or be unruly.
He stressed that all airline staff should be treated with dignity and respect at all times, regardless of the situation, and advised passengers to channel complaints through the NCAA rather than resort to violence. “We are willing to support the airlines, but they must also do their duties to the customers, who, by the way, pay high airfares and are deserving of world-class service,” Achimugu added.