JUST-IN: NCAA bans phone use during take-off, landing

• Passengers will no longer be allowed to rely on airplane mode, as NCAA deems it insufficient for safety compliance.
• The authority emphasised that only a future review reflecting technological improvements could modify the ban on device usage.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has introduced a new directive mandating passengers to switch off all phones and electronic devices during take-off and landing.

The directive was disclosed on Tuesday by the NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, through his verified X handle.

He explained that the regulation now applies uniformly to all Nigerian airlines.

“ALL PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF DURING THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF TAKE-OFF AND LANDING.

“All airlines must amend their security programmes to reflect this if different in their current programmes,” the statement read.

Achimugu clarified that the use of airplane mode will no longer be accepted until the rule is reviewed in line with technological advancements.

The directive followed an incident involving a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who was accused of unruly behaviour on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.

On August 10, viral videos showed Emmanson physically attacking a flight attendant and clashing with airport security officers.

Ibom Air explained that the altercation began when the passenger allegedly refused to comply with the safety instruction to switch off her phone.

Emmanson was later arraigned and remanded at the Kirikiri correctional facility before being released through the intervention of the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo.