The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said that an unruly passenger, who resorted to smoking on board an aircraft in abeyance to civil aviation regulations, has been handed over to the police for prosecution.
The General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye, who disclosed at the weekend, explained that the passenger (name withheld) was on board a South African Airways 060 from Johannesburg to Lagos was alleged to be smoking on board the aircraft in contravention of Section 58 of the Civil Aviation Act 2006, Part.17.97.2 (a) and (c) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation(NCARs) 2012.
Adurogboye stated that the decision to prosecute the unruly passenger was contained in correspondences between the authority and the Nigeria Police Force pledging to collaborate to ensure adequate investigation preceding the prosecution.
He further stated that in line with Part 20.2.3.42 of the NCARs, the stipulated penalty for smoking on board an aircraft is imprisonment of not less than two months.
He pointed out that it is important to note that according to the regulations all airlines should and must as part of pre-flight formalities announce that smoking is prohibited anywhere in the cabin including the toilet.
The NCAA image maker, however said that the culprit failed to adhere to this warning and that as a result NCAA will collaborate with the Police to ensure prosecution.
NCAA, he stated would follow this case to its logical conclusion to serve as deterrence to others, who possess the penchant to flout the authority’s regulations.
He hinted that in addition to that,NCAA’s Directorate of Consumer Protection (DCP) has been strengthened to ensure passengers get full value for their money and comfort.
