Chairman of the Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State, Mr. Yakubu Dati, has cautioned that unresolved workplace conflicts in the aviation sector pose hidden dangers to safety, comparable to technical failures.
Speaking during the FAAN Safety Week 2025 in Lagos, Dati, who delivered a paper on the theme “Navigating Conflict for a Safer Aviation,” said that aviation safety depends not only on technology but also on effective communication, cooperation, and emotional intelligence among staff.
He warned that poorly managed disputes can erode teamwork, impair judgment, and weaken the safety chain connecting pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers, and regulators.
Referencing recent incidents such as the Ibom Air passenger altercation and the KWAM 1 airport disruption, the former FAAN spokesperson described conflict as an emerging safety risk if left unaddressed.
Dati urged aviation operators to embed conflict management into their Safety Management Systems (SMS) and to train personnel in empathy, mediation, and de-escalation.
“A calm and respectful approach often defuses tension before it threatens safety or public confidence,” he said.
He further stressed that leadership across the aviation value chain must foster transparency, dialogue, and trust to uphold a strong safety culture.
“Safety begins in the human heart,” Dati concluded. “When conflict is turned into collaboration, we achieve not only safer skies but a more humane aviation industry.”
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen