The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has warned air travellers to obey crew instructions after a female passenger assaulted an Ibom Air hostess during a flight from Uyo to Lagos on Sunday.
A viral video showed the passenger, dressed in a white top and black trousers, confronting airport officials at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and slapping a crew member before police stepped in.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said the incident started because the passenger refused to follow instructions. “When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff or landing, simply comply,” he wrote on X.
He expressed frustration over how routine safety requests sometimes turn into fights. “I can’t understand why simple routine issues would lead to incidents like this,” he said.
Achimugu stressed that while passengers have rights, they also have duties that help keep flights safe. “Passengers need to understand that they have responsibilities, not just rights,” he warned, adding that more details will be released as the investigation continues.
