Recent events of rowdy behavior of passengers at Nigerian airports have stirred up controversies regarding professionalism, safety, and enforcement in the aviation sector.
The highest profile case was that of Fuji idol King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1), who was stopped from boarding for attempting to carry a bottle containing a liquid on to a ValueJet plane. His tirade disrupted, caused flight delays, and violated aviation safety rules. The initial six-month flight ban was later reduced to a month after a public apology.
Not quite a week later, there was a highly publicized case when Ms. Comfort Emmanson was arraigned and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly assaulting Ibom Air crew members after she declined to stow her phone prior to departure. She was observed in viral videos slapping and kicking officials and almost employing an aircraft fire extinguisher, before she was restrained.
Aviation veterans are of the opinion that such incidents highlight the need for professional management of disruptive passengers. Ex-NCAA Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu, recalled that during his time, it was always the right thing to do to hand over such passengers to security operators through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Equally, the manner in which the Emmanson case was handled was also attacked by another industry player Capt. Caulcrick, who asserted that security officers should have boarded initially and resolved the situation. “It’s a learning curve for new airlines,” he said, adding that professionalism in crisis management plays an important role in upholding industry standards.
Retired airline flight attendant Joy Ogbebo, who served multiple airlines for over 15 years, described unruly passengers as a natural part of the aviation industry. She cited instances of aggressive passengers occupying crew members’ seats, defying safety procedures, or keeping bags placed in front of emergency exits, prompting AVSEC officers to step in.
In her view, such behaviors normally stem from ignorance of aviation law, weak enforcement, or privilege mentality among celebrity passengers. She highlighted that flight attendants receive thorough training in conflict resolution, psychology, and security as well as servicing passengers.
In the issue of switching off phones, Ogbebo explained how rules differ from airline to airline but all must be followed: “One can use flight mode for one airline, another may require turning off. Both are acceptable, both are safe. The problem here is compliance because safety always comes first.”
As additional reports of passenger misbehavior occur, tighter enforcement, enhanced crew member training, and greater public awareness are necessary to reduce disruptions and keep Nigeria’s skies safe, experts say.
