AON vows to prosecute, blacklist unruly passengers

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella body of all airline companies operating in Nigeria, yesterday vowed that aggrieved passengers who destroyed airline property or assault airline staff would be arrested and prosecuted.

The AON also stated that such passengers risked blacklisting while they would be banned from being airlifted by members of the group.

The statement followed the attacks on Dana Air counters and its staff by angry passengers at the airport after the airline’s operation was grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Expect flight delays, cancellation, Airlines tell passengers 

Flights Suspension: Passengers besiege Dana Air counters, seek tickets refund

Daily Trust Saturday reports that following the suspension of Dana Air licences, the passengers, who were scheduled to travel with the airline the following day, besieged its counters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic terminal two (MMA2), destroying everything in sight, while attacking staff of the airline. 

Dana Air is currently undergoing an operational audit as ordered by the NCAA.

The spokesman of the AON, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, condemned the attack on the property of Dana Air, saying any passenger with issues with any operator has “legally sanctioned avenues to seek redress.”

According to the AON, destroying airline property and assaulting staff constitute criminal breaches and are not part of avenues sanctioned by the NCAA and the Federal Competitions and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

“We encourage aggrieved passengers to explore NCAA approved avenues for redress, including options at the FCCPC as the airline staff that are assaulted, and property damaged cannot make up for whatever is the unintended consequences of flight cancellations or delays,” he said.