NCAA directs airlines to amend security programmes, airplane mode no longer permitted

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said all mobile phones must be completely switched off during flight take-off and landing.

In an X post on Tuesday, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, said the regulation concerning phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has now been unified.

The development comes after the agency’s emergency meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday.

“All phones must be switched off during the critical aspects of takeoff and landing,” Achimugu said.

“All airlines must amend their security programmes to reflect this if different from their current programmes.”

He added that the use of airplane mode is no longer permitted until the regulations are reviewed to “reflect evolving technological situations”.

The directive follows a recent air rage incident involving Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of unruly behaviour on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.

On August 10, videos widely circulated captured Emmanson physically assaulting a flight attendant and confronting airport security officials.

According to Ibom Air, the altercation began shortly before take-off when the passenger allegedly refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures requiring all mobile phones to be switched off.

Emmanson, who was arraigned and remanded at the Kirikiri correctional facility, was later released after the intervention of Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s minister of aviation and aerospace development.

Wole Shadare