Unruly Air Travellers Risk Denied Boarding, Arrest, NCAA Warns

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that passengers who behave unruly at the nation’s airports would be denied boarding, arrested and prosecuted.

Speaking on his official X handle, formerly Twitter, the NCAA director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the NCAA will no longer tolerate unruly behaviour at airports or onboard aircraft.

According to him, passengers have no right to be rude, threaten or touch cabin crew, saying unruly passengers will no longer be treated with kid gloves.

“From now on, you will notice more denied boarding for unruly behaviour, arrests and prosecutions, and certainly a lot more fines. The NCAA will no longer tolerate these things. You have no right to be rude to the cabin crew. You have no right to threaten the cabin crew. You have no right to touch the cabin crew.”

“The moment you do that, you are not owed any courtesy. Yes, they are trained to be polite, sweet, and efficient. Some may use their discretion to let go of certain levels of unruly behaviour, but some are sticklers to the law.”

“They would be firm, and that is also right. Many people think they are owed courtesy when they become unruly. You have no right, and this sense of entitlement must stop.”

Achimugu wondered why Nigerians comply with rules and regulations abroad but disobey constituted authorities in Nigeria.

However, he advised that anyone whose rights were trampled upon by the airline or its crew should report to the NCAA.

“This is why unruly passengers will no longer be treated with kid gloves. You not only have rights as a passenger, but you have responsibilities.

“Your duty is compliance. Why would you be ‘stubborn’ to the cabin crew and still talk about the manner of approach? I have also wondered why many of our people mistake firmness and assertiveness for rudeness. This is one of the bigger issues.”

“I realise that our people comply abroad because they know what would happen to them if they do these things. Purchase your ticket. Go to the airport on time. Check-in. Board your flight. Comply with instructions. Travel safely. If your rights have been denied, report to the NCAA

“I disagree with your perspective, especially where the first aggressor is the passenger. I find it weird that simple compliance is still a conversation to be had.

“This is why I am pushing for a review of the regulations. Did you know that, in places like Turkey, you’d be penalised heavily for failing to comply with cabin crew instructions? We are better than this. Let us be orderly. It is not hard,” he concluded.