By Nosa Osula Aituamen
As air travel continues to soar to new heights, a growing concern has emerged: unruly passengers.
From verbal abuse to physical altercations, these individuals are causing chaos and disrupting the smooth operation of flights worldwide.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an unruly passenger is someone who “engages in behaviour that disrupts the safety and comfort of other passengers and crew members.”
This can include, but is not limited to:Verbal abuse or threats, Shouting, swearing, using offensive language, physical altercations with crew members or other passengers, refusal to follow safety instructions and destruction of airline facilities at the airport terminal.
Several factors are attributed to certain behaviours exhibited by passengers to become unruly, this include not limited to; Passenger frustration due to delays, cancellations caused by weather or what is often referred to by airline as “Operational Reasons”, overcrowding can lead to heightened emotions and frustration.
Lack of communication between airline staff and passengers, passengers may be unaware of or choose to disregard airline rules and regulations or a passengers experiencing mental health crises may exhibit unpredictable and disruptive behavior.
When delays and cancellations occur, they disrupt plans, cause financial losses, and undermine passenger confidence in the aviation system.
Delays and cancellations are sometimes inevitable, but poor management of these disruptions is not.
Unruly passengers are a global problem, with incidents reported on flights across the world. Examples abound.
In the United States, a passenger was arrested after allegedly assaulting a flight attendant on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
In the United Kingdom, a man was banned from flying with British Airways after being accused of assaulting a flight attendant on a flight from London to New York.
In Australia, a passenger was charged with assault after allegedly attacking a Qantas flight attendant on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.Unfortunately, Nigeria is not immune to the issue of unruly passengers.
In recent years, while specific data may be limited, there have been several high-profile incidents on flights originating or within Nigeria.In 2019, a passenger was arrested after allegedly assaulting a flight attendant on a Nigerian flight from Abuja to Lagos.
In 2020, a man was banned from flying with Arik Air after being accused of assaulting a flight attendant on a flight from Lagos to Abuja.In 2022, a passenger was arrested after allegedly disrupting a flight from Lagos to London, causing the plane to make an emergency landing in Morocco.
Early this 2025, a French passenger was deboarded twice by Air France and British Airways for being unruly on the flight at the Abuja International Airport.
On December 19, 2024, United Nigeria Airlines aborted Lagos-Asaba 6:30 am flight when an unruly passenger allegedly assaulted a member of the crew, forcing the airline to ground the flight.
On January 8, 2025, an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Abuja was forced to cancel due to the disruptive behavior of a female passenger.
The incident resulted in significant delays, leaving 89 passengers stranded at the airport.These behaviours oftentimes are not only onboard the flight but also on the ground. There are also examples.
Earlier this year, a passenger on a Royal Air Maroc flight became furious upon discovering his baggage had been short-landed.
This escalated into a heated confrontation with a Consumer Protection Officer from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, who was attempting to de-escalate the situation, resulting in the officer being assaulted.
Announcing its zero tolerance for unruly behaviour, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN have taken a firm stance to nip this ugly trend in the bud.
At a recent meeting with Airline Operators in 2024, the Acting Director General, NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo says, the consequences for unruly passengers would henceforth be severe. In addition to being arrested and charged with criminal offenses, they may also face ban from flying, placed on blacklist or no-flight list amongst others.
“The NCAA will also be joining airlines to enforce whatever penalties will be applicable for unruly behaviour because with Rights comes responsibilities”… Captain Najomo.
Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu says, there is a punishment between N1 million and N10 million for unruly behaviour, adding that the passenger also risks a jail term of between six months to one year.
“We have been carrying out a lot of awareness as regards passengers’ rights and obligations”.
Managing Director, FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku also stressed, “But to start behaving in a manner that is demeaning to colleagues, demeaning to airline staff and to the airport, we will not tolerate. We will prosecute. We will put you on the no-flight list and a blacklist and make sure that you are prosecuted for any criminal actions. The magistrate courts, they’re up and running, especially at the major airports we’ve been speaking and working very closely with the Ministry of Justice”.
However, Captain Najomo has reminded operators to remember the NCAA Regulations on Passenger Rights during disruptions, as outlined in the Nigeria Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2023, stressing these regulations are not optional and are mandatory.
“Non-compliance with these regulations will not be tolerated, and going forward, the NCAA will not hesitate to impose the necessary penalties where violations are observed”.
In September, 2024, statistics revealed that, five thousand two hundred and ninety-one domestic flights were operated with 2,434 delays and 79 cancellations, while in October, 2024, 5513 flights were operated with 2,791 delays and 111 cancellations recorded.
Captain Najomo emphasized that, airlines must invest in robust operational systems that can minimize avoidable delays, ensure transparency in communication with passengers during disruptions and strengthen contingency plans for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.
It is the responsibility of airlines to ensure that every disruption, whether due to operational, technical, or weather-related challenges, is handled with the utmost professionalism and regard for passengers’ rights.
In Nigeria, as the aviation industry continues to grow, addressing unruly behaviour will be crucial to ensuring safe and pleasant air travel for all.