NCAA orders airlines to blacklist unruly passengers to protect staff and improve flight safety amid rising cases of in-flight misconduct

NCAA Orders Airlines to Blacklist Unruly Passengers in a bid to protect airline staff, restore order, and improve the travel experience for Nigerian passengers.

Also read: NCAA Bans Flights with Unruly Passengers Onboard

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, issued the directive on Wednesday following a meeting with domestic airline operators in Abuja.

Achimugu stressed that unruly behaviour had become a recurring problem, with many passengers assaulting airline staff during delays and cancellations. He urged airlines to act firmly against disruptive individuals.

“Passengers are obsessed with rights but not responsibilities. Paying for a service doesn’t give you the right to assault or be unruly. We will continue to educate, but we must also protect cabin and flight crews. They deserve dignity and respect,” Achimugu said.

The meeting also addressed broader regulatory issues such as passenger handling protocols, compensation and refunds, enforcement of in-flight phone switch-off rules, protection for crew, RFID bag tags, and new flight monitoring systems.

Airlines present included Arik Air, Ibom Air, Aero Contractors, United Nigeria, Green Africa, Max Air, Rano Air, ValueJet, Air Peace, and Overland Airways. Several operators raised concerns about frequent abuse of check-in staff and demanded stronger protection measures.

Airline representatives also complained about poor airport infrastructure managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which they said worsens passenger frustrations.

Ifueko Abdulmalik, Senior Special Assistant to the Director-General of Civil Aviation, condemned the practice of rescheduling flights without proper notice and highlighted increasing complaints over delayed refunds.

She reiterated that airlines must comply with regulations mandating immediate relief for short-landed baggage and timely compensation.

The NCAA pledged to intensify public education on passenger rights and responsibilities while strengthening collaboration with airlines to enforce protection rules and improve customer service delivery.

Industry stakeholders welcomed the blacklisting directive, noting that rising incidents of unruly passengers at Lagos and Abuja airports had disrupted operations and threatened aviation safety.

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The move, they said, is a decisive step towards safeguarding both staff and passengers in Nigeria’s aviation sector.