The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed national airlines to land flights provided there is a rebel passenger on board.
The general director of NCAA, Captain Chris Najumo, gave the board during a meeting with airline operators in Abuja. It was represented by the Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu.
Najumo said that the NCAA has observed a disturbing increase in the incidents in which passengers harass the crew of cabin and altercation record to circulate online by negative advertising.
“From now on, no pilot should fly an airplane if there is a rebel passenger on board. That passenger must be eliminated by safety or the matter resolved in a friendly way before the aircraft leaves,” he said.
Although he acknowledges that passengers deserve a quality service at the fees they pay, the NCAA chief emphasized that they also have the responsibility of good behavior. He pointed out that many incidents increase because pilots fail to affirm the control and crew of cabin doubts to enforce the rules for fear of being misrepresented on social networks.
“Passengers must understand that being a client gives him rights, but he also falls certain responsibilities. No one has the right to touch a member of the cabin crew. Cabin crew deserves to carry out their duties with courtesy and dignity,” he said.
Najumo expressed concern about a recent case in which public sympathy leaned towards a passenger, while the member of the affected crew was left without support, emphasizing the psychological and physical toll that such incidents acquired to the staff.
In addition, he reminded passengers that the firmness of the cabin crew should not be confused with rudeness, warning that disobedience to safety instructions, such as refusing to turn off mobile phones, will not be tolerated.
By assuring the operators of the continuous support of the NCAA, Najumo emphasized that the authority firmly faces airlines and the crew in the management of rebel passengers, even when the consumer protection department continues to address the problems of flight interruptions and the quality of the service.
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