Unruly Air Passengers Face Stiff Penalties, Authorities Warn

Following recent high-profile incidents involving a female passenger on Ibom Air and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a reminder about the penalties for unruly behavior on flights. The authority highlighted its NCAA Act 2022, which outlines strict punishments for passengers who interfere with crew duties, use phones against instructions, or engage in violent conduct.

The public notice, posted on the NCAA's official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, re-emphasized the regulations as debates around the incidents continue.

According to Section 85 of the NCAA Act 2022, passengers who impede a crew member's duties can face fines up to N200,000 or at least two months in prison, or both. The law is even more explicit regarding physical or threatening behavior. Sub-section 2 states that any person who "assaults, intimidates, or threatens" a flight crew member is liable to a fine of at least N200,000 or a minimum of two months' imprisonment, or both.

The regulations also cover the use of personal electronic devices. Sub-section 3 criminalizes the use of mobile phones or other equipment that could interfere with the aircraft's navigational systems, again punishable by a fine of up to N200,000 or imprisonment.

The NCAA's statement reinforces the authority of the pilot-in-command, who is empowered to take "reasonable measures" to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers when faced with an unruly individual.

These provisions have been brought back into the spotlight by the controversies surrounding the Ibom Air passenger and KWAM 1's conduct, with the NCAA underscoring the importance of adhering to air travel rules for the safety of everyone on board.