JUST IN: NCAA Orders All Phones Switched Off During Take-off, Landing

JUST IN: NCAA Orders All Phones Switched Off During Take-off, Landing

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed that all mobile phones must now be completely switched off during aircraft take-off and landing.

The Authority’s Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, made this known on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, themed “National Civil Aviation Security Committee Meeting.”

Najomo clarified that passengers will no longer be allowed to rely on the traditional “flight mode” option, as regulations on the use of phones and other electronic devices during flights have been harmonized.

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 further announced a set of stringent measures aimed at curbing the rising cases of unruly passenger conduct in Nigerian airports, warning that the era of lax compliance is over.

According to him, the NCAA will intensify enforcement on both airlines and travelers while also embarking on public awareness campaigns to educate passengers about their obligations.

He said, “And, you know, I had to call this stakeholders meeting because going further, we know what the responsibilities of the airlines are, what the responsibilities of passengers are, and where the CA, the FAAN, AVSEC stands. I can assure you where we have decided. I’ve told the Director of Consumer Protection we’re going to do a lot of radio jingles, TV series.

“We’re going to go on air. We’ll make sure that we take all these preambles of informing passengers, going further of their responsibilities, and going further, things will not be as usual as what it is. If you’re unruly, you’re unruly.

“So, you see, we have a new beginning from where we are. It will not be as business as usual. I can assure you that. It will not. And I want to also tell the airline operators here, we are going to start checking that you would do the adequate training.”

Capt. Najomo emphasized that the NCAA would compel airlines to implement “adequate training of conflict resolutions” for their staff, warning operators who had not done so to “please go back and make sure you get this done.”

“The threats we face in aviation, steaming from deliberate or attempted sabotage, non-compliance with aviation protocols by traveling public, non-implementation of approved standard operating procedures by service providers, non-cooperation or collaboration among agencies at the airports or systemic oversight require, one, a decisive, united, and accountable response, which I’ve just explained.”

Najomo also revealed that the Authority will stage mock emergency response drills in Lagos and Abuja next week to test operational preparedness.

“We are going to do a mock response next week. We are going to carry it out in Lagos and Abuja, and we are going to come up with a result. And I’m going to go public and tell them what we have come, what we have decided.

“So if you think in your mind you are going to come and be unruly passengers, we’re waiting for you. Aviation security personnel and law enforcement must be reinforced with training, professionalism, and clearly defined rules of engagement. All stakeholders, from airlines to intelligence partners, must work without silos to share threat intelligence and coordinate rapid response.”