JUST-IN: NCAA Bars Pilots From Flying With Unruly Passenger

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has barred all pilots from flying their planes with unruly passenger(s) on board.

NCAA Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, announced the decision on Wednesday in an ongoing meeting with all domestic airlines in Abuja.

The NCAA said that considering the risks involved in airline business, it was unacceptable that passengers who are unruly to pilots or cabin crew are allowed to fly without resolving the issues at stake.

Achimugu said the pilots are allowed to fly after the issues have been resolved amicably or the unruly passenger removed from the aircraft.

He, however, warned cabin crew to behave professionally, noting that the NCAA is always behind the airline operators when it comes to the issue of unruly passengers.

Also speaking, Mrs Ifueko Abdulmalik, the senior special assistant to the director-general of the NCAA, warned that the NCAA will sanction airlines for neglecting passengers after flight delays and cancellations without properly taking care of them.

Among the issues been addressed at the ongoing meeting on Wednesday morning 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.

Details Later…