The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern advisory to air travelers following a disturbing incident on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, where a passenger physically assaulted an air hostess and caused disruptions at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Sunday.
A video rapidly spreading on social media shows the woman, clad in a white top and black pants, aggressively confronting airport staff and slapping the air hostess before police intervened to restore order.
This latest episode comes shortly after NCAA imposed a six-month flying ban on Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM1) due to his misconduct at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
In a statement posted on Sunday via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, confirmed that the incident originated from the passenger’s refusal to comply with instructions from the flight crew.
Achimugu underscored the critical importance of following crew directives to ensure safety, stressing, “When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff or landing, simply comply.”
Expressing frustration at how simple and routine safety requests can escalate into conflicts, he remarked, “I cannot understand why minor issues lead to such confrontations.”
While acknowledging that passengers do have rights, Achimugu reminded the public that those rights come with responsibilities essential for smooth boarding and safe in-flight operations.
“Safe air travel depends on a shared commitment between passengers and crew. Passengers need to appreciate that they have responsibilities, not just rights,” he added.
The NCAA official further stated that the authority would provide additional updates once investigations are complete.
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