Stakeholders in the Aviation sector have tackled the rising cases of unruly passengers’ behaviour while calling for stricter measures to curb future incidents.

They made the call in Abuja on Tuesday at an Emergency meeting of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NSASC) and Stakeholders’ Meeting.

The meeting is coming on the heels of the recent unruly behaviour by Ms. Comfort Emmanson on Ibom Airline, and Fuji music star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal popularly known as KWAM 1, on a ValueJet Aircraft.

On August 5, the unruly conduct of Wasiu Ayinde, the veteran Fuji musician, led to the suspension of two ValueJet pilots by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

KWAM1, who was onboard a ValueJet plane on August 5, was seen drinking from a flask and was approached by a flight attendant who suspected that the content was alcohol — a substance prohibited onboard aircraft in Nigeria.

The attendant was said to have asked the musician to surrender the flask, but KWAM1 refused, saying it was medication prescribed by his doctor.

Following his refusal to give up the flask, the flight crew deboarded the celebrity.

Consequently, an enraged KWAM 1 proceeded to the front of the aircraft in an attempt to prevent it from taking off.

The Fuji artist was seen standing in front of the aircraft, with ground personnel interacting with him.

Seconds later, KWAM1 and the ground personnel were seen dodging the wing of the ValueJet plane as the flight forcefully took off in breach of aviation safety rules.

In response, the NCAA, on August 6, announced the suspension of two pilots over the incident which occurred at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Apart from the suspension of the pilots, the aviation authority placed KWAM 1, on a 6 month ‘no-fly list’, over his unruly conduct, following the intervention of the intervention of the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo while questioning why the NCAA’s decision to only punish the pilots and allow Kwam 1 to go scot free.

A ‘no-fly list’ is a database of individuals prohibited from boarding commercial flights due to suspected links to terrorism or other security threats.

Subsequently on August 10th, an Ibom Air flight from Uyo landed safely in Lagos on Sunday but became engulfed in turbulence, as an altercation between an Ibom Air hostess, who was identified as Juliana Edward, and passenger Comfort Emmanson escalated into fisticuffs and Emmanson’s forced evacuation from the plane.

Videos recorded by Ibom Air and airport staff as seen on the Internet, showed ripping apart of Emmanson’s clothes which exposed her private parts.

Emmanson was arraigned in court and then remanded in Kirikiri prison, sparking public outrage about her treatment, with the likes of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) promising to defend her.

However, the Aviation minister announced the withdrawal of criminal charges against Emmanson.

“In the last 48 hours, I have been in consultation with critical stakeholders in the Aviation Sector and those involved in the unfortunate incidents regarding the unruly behaviours of certain individuals at our airports of recent,” Keyamo wrote on X.

“Though regrettable, we think valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides to these incidents and airport security protocol, especially, have been well highlighted for the travelling public. If nothing at all, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space.”

He further announced the reduction of the no fly ban of 6months on Kwam1 to 1 month as well as the two Value Jet pilots involved.

He further stated that both Emamson and Kwam1 were considered to be engaged as ambassadors by the Airline Operators Association of Nigeria

What stakeholders are saying

Meanwhile, at the security hearing, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, attributed rising incidents of misconduct in the aviation sector to a general decline in discipline among passengers, airport staff, and crew.

He emphasised the need for strict adherence to professional standards and praised the NCAA for its enforcement efforts.

He also urged other aviation agencies to support the NCAA in maintaining industry safety and security.

Also speaking, Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, former Rector at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) while contributing stated that any unruly behaviour by a passenger should be handled by the airline ground staff and communicated to flight crew to secure the cockpit and cabin crew.

Speaking further, he said “should the disturbance occur onboard the aircraft, the crew must secure the cabin and radio the ATC for assistance who would deploy security.”

He added that crew must always remember that passengers have rights to a limit and must undergo trainings in conflict resolution.

‘Rise in unruly behaviour’

Also speaking, Capt. Alex Nwuba stated that global statistics has shown rise in cases of unruly behaviour which poses a global challenge.

He further stated that there is a need to “Create SLAs (service level agreement) across various agencies operating at the airport to enhance cooperation and law enforcement agencies must understand their roles and frameworks that define acceptable conduct and penalties.

He added that there must be training for ground staff to spot early signs of unruly behaviour and aggression and calming passengers down or if need be, involving security.

Meanwhile, the Director-General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria, Capt. Chris Najomo has said emphatically that all mobile phones must be switched off during take-off and landing of an aircraft in Nigeria.

He said the flight mode option is no longer acceptable in Nigeria effective immediately.

Rising from the meeting, Najomo said deeper synergy between all aviation stakeholders must be encouraged to stem unruly passenger behaviour and safety.

“As a takeaway and to avoid ambiguity and confusion, all mobile phones, and other portable electronic devices should be switched off during the critical stage of flight on all Nigerian airlines. Nothing like flight mode any longer” he stated.

“Nigerian air operators are therefore required to amend their operator’s manual to reflect this requirement and submit to the NCAA for approval,” he further stated.

“We remain alert to future reviews of this requirement as aircraft technological enhancement improves,” he said, adding, “It remains the responsibility of the crew to communicate this requirement to the passengers and the responsibility of the passenger to comply with crew instructions.”

The meeting saw attendance from airline operators, all critical security agencies, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Federal Ministry Aviation and Aerospace Development, the National Assembly, and other aviation stakeholders.

Capt. Najomo warned that unruly behaviour in the industry cannot be tolerated. “Henceforth, things wouldn’t be as usual. If you are unruly, you are unruly. From category one to category four, will be taken care of henceforth.”

In his presentation on NCAA Regulatory Requirements and Policies on Unruly Passenger Behaviour: A Consumer Protection Perspective, the Director Public Relations and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu said recent events around unruly customer behaviour have brought out different shades to the crises.

“I am happy about the recent events. I am proud of the way the NCAA handled these issues. There is not one party involved who would repeat their errors. Not KWAM 1. Not Comfort. Not the pilots or cabin crew. But there are gaps in the system that need to be plucked as a matter of urgency,” he emphasised.

He told the public that once you enter an airport terminal, the rules change. “Once you board an aircraft, the rules become even stricter. No matter the sentiments and opinion, safety comes first. The guardians of that safety are pilot and cabin crew, and their authority is final. The passenger, beyond their rights, owes a responsibility of compliance. The right time to argue over rules is not when an aircraft is about to take off.

“AVSEC needs to step up. Regulatory enforcement needs to become more consistent and stringent. In the end, let us synergize and ensure that, after we have left the industry, people would say that civil aviation became better because of us, not in spite of us,” he stated.

The Director of Aviation Security Regulation at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Omogo Bernard Onwe Chinedu while welcoming the participants said the committee has the mandate to coordinate security issues in aviation as empowered by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act adding that the expanded committee to address important national civil aviation issues.

Ms Emamson, Ibom Air crew summoned

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has invited Comfort Emmanson and a member of the Ibom Air cabin crew, Juliana Edward, for further investigation into a reported incident aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10.

This was disclosed by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, during a question and answer session at the Emergency National Civil Aviation Security Committee and Stakeholders Meeting held Tuesday in Abuja.

Achimugu confirmed that he spoke with Emmanson earlier that day and that both she and the crew involved had been summoned for continued inquiry.

“I spoke with Ms. Emmanson this morning. We are also inviting the Ibom Air cabin crew for continued investigation on the incident. They will be here tomorrow,” he said.

He clarified that the pilot did not call in security personnel upon landing in Lagos, as the issue seemed resolved during the flight. (Daily Trust)