According To A Report From Newspapers In Nigeria, The spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, has explained the need for passengers to turn off their phones before flight take off and during landing.
Achimugu disclosed this during an interview on Arise Television’s News Night.
This is the coming after Ibom Air banned a passenger identified as Comfort Emmanson from flying with its airline after she was found assaulting one of the crew members of their aircraft.
Emmanson had in a viral video repeatedly slapped a Purser with Ibom Aircraft after she was allegedly told to switch off her phone before take-off.
However, speaking on Tuesday, the NCAA spokesperson said the reasons are not unconnected to the different security programmes from various airlines and the safety of the passengers.
“Regulator is a responsive authority in this case. There are too many arguments over which is better between switching off phones or putting them on aeroplane mode on the flight. Unfortunately, people have failed to grasp the crux of the matter. Now that the explanation has been given, some aircraft are equipped to fly in aeroplane mode, some are not.
“Different airlines have different security programmes with respect to this particular issue. And because the pilot is in charge of their aircraft and is the one flying you, they know what their plane is equipped to carry.
“So switching off phones during take-off and landing won’t cause anything,” he said.
He warned that a single mistake by an individual could lead to the loss of lives, urging the public to refrain from debating whether to put their phones on flight mode or switch them off.
“So if the cabin crew are saying ‘turn off your phone’, the time to have an argument about which is better is not the point of departure, and so if we continue to let this kind of argument fester, it is going to pose a risk for every passenger on board. In aviation, every tiny mistake can cause a mishap.”
The PUNCH earlier reported that the NCAA insisted that all mobile phones must be completely switched off during flight take-off and landing.
The Director General of Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting themed “National Civil Aviation Security Committee Meeting” in Abuja on Tuesday.
He declared that all passengers must now completely switch off electronic devices during flights, ending the long-standing “flight mode” practice.
He said the regulation concerning phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has now been unified, stressing that the widely accepted “flight mode” option will no longer be permitted.
He said, “All mobile phones, I repeat, all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices should be switched off during at least the critical phase of flight on all Nigerian airlines. Switched off.”
Rejecting the use of flight mode, he stressed, “There’s nothing like anything like flight mode any longer. Must be switched off. Nigerian air operators are therefore required to amend their operations manual to reflect this requirement and submit to the NCA for approval, if different from this resolution.”
He announced a series of tough measures to address the growing trend of unruly passenger behaviour across the country’s airports, warning that the era of “business as usual” is over.
