In order to strengthen safety and discipline in the aviation sector, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed pilots not to fly unruly passengers.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, announced the directive on Wednesday at an ongoing meeting with all domestic airlines in Abuja.
Achimugu said that pilots would only be allowed to fly after the issues were resolved amicably or the unruly passengers were removed by security from the aircraft.
He said, “Pilots must not fly plane until unruly passengers are removed from the aircraft by security or the issue resolved amicably. This will go a long way to protect cabin crew and make passengers treat them with courtesy.
“Cases are overblown because the pilots in command did not take charge. Going forward, no passenger has right to touch any cabin crew”.
He, however, warned cabin crew to be professional in discharging their duties, saying: “Cabin crew should not be rude and passnegers shoukd not misconstrue firmness of cabin crew as rudeness”.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Director-General of the NCAA, Mrs. Ifueko Abdulmalik warned that NCAA would sanction airlines over failure to notify and offer care to passengers when flights were delayed or cancelled.
Among the issues been addressed at the meeting include: Unruly passenger behaviour and passenger handling protocols; Unresolved refund/compensation issues; Introduction of RFID bagtags and flight monitoring technology; Enforcement of phone switch-off instruction and protection for cabin crew as well as Improved travel experience for passengers.
Airlines present at the meeting include; Arik, Ibom, Aero, United Nigeria, Green Africa, Max Air, Rano Air, ValueJet, AirPeace and Overland.
