Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a stern warning to airline passengers nationwide following an incident in which a traveller physically assaulted an Ibom Air crew member.
The incident, which occurred on board an Ibom Air flight, sparked outrage within the aviation sector and raised fresh concerns about the safety of flight personnel. According to reports, the passenger engaged in unruly conduct before attacking the crew, disrupting operations and breaching established air safety protocols.
Keyamo condemned the act in strong terms, describing it as “unacceptable, dangerous, and a direct threat to the safety of both crew and passengers.”
He stressed that such behaviour would not be tolerated and warned that offenders will face the full weight of the law, including prosecution under Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Regulations.
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“The safety and dignity of airline staff are non-negotiable,” Keyamo stated, adding that the government will work closely with security agencies to ensure incidents of air rage are dealt with decisively.
Industry stakeholders have also called for stricter enforcement of passenger conduct rules, with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) expected to review guidelines to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Ibom Air has yet to release an official statement on the matter, but insiders say the assaulted crew member is receiving medical attention and the matter is under investigation.