AN AIRLINE PASSENGER DISRUPTS FLIGHT, ASSAULTS AIR HOSTESS, AT THE LAGOS AIRPORT.
A yet to be identified passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos caused a scene at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Sunday, assaulting an air hostess and confronting airport officials.
The incident was captured on tape
. The lady, dressed in a white top and black trousers, was seen throwing tantrums at officials who tried to de-escalate the situation.
She was also captured physically abusing an air hostess, with a witness at the scene who claimed she had slapped the crew member.
The situation eventually drew the intervention of airport police officers, who managed to restore order.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, who revealed that the incident was a result of the passenger’s failure to adhere to instructions, cautioned against ignoring crew directives.
He noted that directives such as switching off mobile phones during takeoff and landing should not be taken for granted, stressing that such simple rules should not escalate into confrontations.
He reiterated that, “When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff/landing, simply comply. I can’t understand why simple routine issues would lead to incidents like this. Passengers need to understand that they have responsibilities, not just rights. Will address this after more details become clearer by tomorrow.”
The incident comes just days after the NCAA imposed a six-month flying ban on popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM1, over allegations of misconduct.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said during a press briefing on Thursday, “What I must assure the general public is that everybody involved in this will be brought to book. As we speak, the passenger is going to be blacklisted for the next six months from flying in Nigeria.”
The suspension followed KWAM1’s altercation with the staff and crew of ValueJet at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday, where he was accused of obstructing the aircraft from taxiing for takeoff.
The confrontation, described by some as a near-death experience for the music star, has drawn widespread reactions online, with opinions divided over who was at fault.
Following the ban, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, warned that the operating licence of any airline that flies KWAM1 during the ban period would be withdrawn.
Hammid Bakare
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