A disturbing incident unfolded at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday when a female passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo allegedly assaulted a flight attendant and clashed with airport security officials. The altercation was captured in several videos shared on social media, showing the visibly agitated passenger yelling at officials and physically attacking a female air hostess. Eyewitnesses claim the passenger slapped the crew member, prompting airport police to intervene and restore calm.
According to Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the confrontation was caused by the passenger’s refusal to comply with crew instructions. Achimugu emphasized the importance of passengers taking directives from cabin crew seriously, particularly routine safety procedures such as switching off mobile devices during takeoff and landing. “When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff or landing, simply comply,” Achimugu urged.
Achimugu also highlighted the need for passengers to understand their responsibilities, not just their rights. “Passengers need to understand they have responsibilities, not just rights,” he wrote on X late Sunday. The NCAA will provide more details on the incident in a future statement. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting aviation safety protocols and the role of passengers in ensuring their own safety and the safety of others.
The disturbance comes just days after the NCAA imposed a six-month flight ban on popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, known as KWAM1, over alleged in-flight misconduct. KWAM1 was accused of attempting to board a ValueJet flight with a flask containing an unidentified liquid, refusing to comply with aviation security personnel, and pouring the liquid on a security officer. The incident led to a joint investigation by the NCAA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), with the NCAA ultimately imposing the flight ban on the musician.
According to Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the confrontation was caused by the passenger’s refusal to comply with crew instructions. Achimugu emphasized the importance of passengers taking directives from cabin crew seriously, particularly routine safety procedures such as switching off mobile devices during takeoff and landing. “When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff or landing, simply comply,” Achimugu urged.
Achimugu also highlighted the need for passengers to understand their responsibilities, not just their rights. “Passengers need to understand they have responsibilities, not just rights,” he wrote on X late Sunday. The NCAA will provide more details on the incident in a future statement. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting aviation safety protocols and the role of passengers in ensuring their own safety and the safety of others.
The disturbance comes just days after the NCAA imposed a six-month flight ban on popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, known as KWAM1, over alleged in-flight misconduct. KWAM1 was accused of attempting to board a ValueJet flight with a flask containing an unidentified liquid, refusing to comply with aviation security personnel, and pouring the liquid on a security officer. The incident led to a joint investigation by the NCAA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), with the NCAA ultimately imposing the flight ban on the musician.
