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Industry
professionals in Nigeria’s aviation sector have implored air travellers
to be orderly while on board aircraft, as they described unruly
behaviour by some passengers as a “threat to flight safety.” This is
coming after a disorderly passenger on an Air Nigeria flight from Lagos
to Abuja recently, which interrupted the scheduled departure of the
aircraft when he (names withheld) started screaming, that he should be
allowed to disembark after all passengers and crew officials were
seated and ready for departure .

The situation,
which warranted the pilot to effect a U-turn while taxing for takeoff,
was however, calmed after the passenger was handed over to security
operatives at the airport for questioning.

“What some
passengers fail to understand is that, acts of unruliness while on
board can jeopardize the safety of a particular flight. This is why
flight crew personnels take time to explain to travellers; but the
irony is that you still find some passengers flouting simple
instructions,” said Sam Adurogboye, media head for the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA), over the weekend in Lagos.

Explaining that a
passenger’s disorderliness could scare other travellers away from him,
Mr. Adurogboye disclosed that the situation is capable of slanting an
aircraft already in flight, adding that such may lead to an emergency
landing. Also stating that If there is an air rage, either amongst or
between passengers and crew members, this can startle others on the
flight. “When this happens, the air plane may tilt to one end, which of
course is dangerous to safety,” he said.

Also advising
passengers to always switch off phones, and other electronic gadgets
before any flight takeoff, the regulatory authority’s spokesperson
disclosed that some electronic devices may interfere with smooth
in-flight operations.

“Phones are to be switched off for the purpose of safety, and I wonder why some people ignore such instructions.

Just as the DG
(director general) has said, unruly passengers who fail to comply will
be handed over to the appropriate security agents,” he said.

Unruly conducts

Outlining conducts
that are unruly, Olumide Ohunayo, former president National Cabin Crew
Association (NACCA) and a certified management consultant by the
International Air Transport Association (IATA), disclosed that a
passenger’s failure to follow safety regulations, such as refusal to
buckle seat belt could be regarded as a threat to flight security.

Others according to
Mr. Ohunayo, include when a traveller intentionally interfere with the
duties of a crew member; wears clothing that is inappropriate or
offensive; views pornographic material that may interfere with the
comfort of other people on board; or behaves in a way that gives
suspicion or is a threat to flight safety such as disabling a toilet
smoke alarm.

In order to handle
passenger disorderliness, Mr. Ohunayo disclosed that cabin crew
personnel should uphold safety policies consistently.

“They should start
with a non-confrontational approach, and thereafter make prudent use of
training in self defence and means of restraining passengers,” he said,
adding, “also; all commercial aircraft must be equipped with restraint
kits, such as straps, tapes, and handcuffs which should be included in
the minimum equipment list.”

The former cabin
crew president, however, advised airlines to stop transporting unlawful
persons on commercial aircraft, adding that such individuals should be
assigned a separate carrier if air safety must be achieved.

“Airlines should refrain from carrying deportees and criminals on
commercial flights even when accompanied by security personnel,” he
said. “Special flights should be reserved for such operations.”