Know The Law: Fighting, use of mobile phone on an aircraft attract jail terms

Nigerians recently witnessed a plethora of drama, fisticuffs, and unruly behaviours at the airports and on airplanes.

These has sparked conversations on decorum at the country’s airports.

On January 8, an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Abuja was reportedly cancelled after a passenger disrupted flight operations and caused delays.

The passenger went irate after discovering her luggage was not loaded into the aircraft due to weight limits.

She caused a scene, and despite pleas from the crew and pilot, she blocked the aisle and held the plane hostage until the airspace was closed, leading to a cancellation of the flight, which had 89 passengers onboard, including an infant.

In June 2025, Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, created a scene at the Zulu hall of Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal 1 in Lagos after he reportedly missed his Air Peace flight.

In social media videos, Oshiomhole could be seen addressing an official at the airport while seated before a gate at the terminal.

Addressing the incident via a statement, the airline accused the politician of disrupting its airport operations after missing a scheduled flight.

However, the Edo senator said what he experienced was a case of extortion and arbitrary policy changes by the airline.

Barely two months after Oshiomhole’s airport incident, Wasiu Ayinde, the Fuji musician better known as KWAM1, sparked controversy when he stood in front of a ValueJet aircraft in a bid to prevent it from taxiing for takeoff at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The plane eventually veered off, with Ayinde and other airport staff dodging the wings of the aircraft.

The airline officials had approached the Fuji musician about the content of the bottle he was clutching.

The airline accused Ayinde of spilling a controversial liquid, which it claimed was alcohol, on a crew member.

Days later, videos of Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger, being forcefully taken off an Ibom airline by personnel, made the round on social media.

The passenger was dragged off the airline with her dress ripped apart — a scenario that sparked outrage on social media.

Emmanson allegedly assaulted some cabin crew members aboard Ibom Air’s Uyo-Lagos flight after she allegedly refused to switch off her phone before take-off.

On November 17, another video on social media showed a physical altercation between comedian Mr Jollof and controversial social media activist VeryDarkMan.

The duo was filmed trading blows aboard Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

Provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 2022 criminalise violent conduct by passengers while boarding an aircraft or during a flight in Nigeria.

The legislation also criminalises any action that endangers the safety of the aircraft and passengers.

Section 83(4) of the act states:

“Whosoever unlawfully and intentionally, using any device, substance or weapon —

“(a) Performs an act of violence against a person at an aerodrome which causes or is likely to cause serious injury or death; or

“(b) Destroys or seriously damages the facilities of an aerodrome or aircraft not in service located thereon or disrupts the services of the aerodrome, if such an act endangers safety at that aerodrome, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N2,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of at least five years.”

The legislation also criminalises attack on aircraft personnel or interference with their duties.

Section 85 of the act states:

“(1) Whoever while onboard an aircraft, interferes with a crew member and such interference impedes the performance of the crew member’s duties, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not more than N200,000 or imprisonment for a term of at least two months or both.

“(2) Any person who, assaults, intimidates, or threatens any flight crew member or flight attendant, including any steward or stewardess of such aircraft or engages in an unruly behavior onboard such aircraft, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N200,000 or imprisonment for a term of at least two months or both.

“(3) Any person who, against instruction of the pilot-in-command or a flight crew member or cabin crew, uses or operates any equipment or device including mobile phone that may interfere with the aircraft radio frequency or other navigational equipment onboard aircraft commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not more than N200,000 or imprisonment for a term of at least two months or both.”