The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified its role in two recent high-profile passenger incidents, stating that it only intervenes when necessary and strictly within its mandate.

Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, speaking on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, explained that in the case involving Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, the airline involved chose not to pursue legal action.

“The airline [in the singer’s case] did not activate its right to take the passenger to court. As a result, the NCAA petitioned relevant authorities to prosecute the passenger, issuing an advisory to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to have the passenger banned,” Achimugu said.

In contrast, he noted that in the Ibom Air case where a passenger assaulted an airline staff member the carrier promptly took legal steps.

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“Maybe because their staff had been assaulted, the airline immediately activated its right to take up the matter, and it went to court, so the NCAA is not involved in the case of the Ibom Air passenger,” he stated.

The passenger, identified as Emmanson Comfort, was charged in court on the day of the incident and subsequently remanded.

Achimugu emphasised that both incidents show that the aviation system is under pressure, adding that “there’s enough blame to go around FAAN, AVSEC, cabin crew, passengers.”

He reiterated that “unruly behaviour is not acceptable anywhere in the world, no matter the confrontation. The regulations are not sentiment-based; those rules are there for the safety of every passenger.”

According to him, passengers are obligated to follow cabin crew instructions while onboard.

In the Ibom Air matter, he added, other passengers reportedly seized the accused passenger’s phone and switched it off during the altercation.

The AON had earlier placed Comfort Emmanson on a permanent no-fly list, banning her from flying with any member airline, domestically or internationally.

The announcement, made in a Monday statement by AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo, stated that the lifetime ban took immediate effect and warned that similar conduct in future would attract the same sanction.

A comparable case occurred last Tuesday when the NCAA banned K1 De Ultimate from flying for six months over what it described as unruly behaviour at Abuja airport.

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