Unruly passengers’ incidents undermine aviation safety – FAAN

Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku yesterday stated that incidents involving unruly passengers, staff conflicts, stakeholder tensions and non-compliance with safety protocols threaten to undermine the hard-earned progress recorded in safety and service excellence. She stated that stakeholders must recognise that conflict is not only a disruption but […]

Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku yesterday stated that incidents involving unruly passengers, staff conflicts, stakeholder tensions and non-compliance with safety protocols threaten to undermine the hard-earned progress recorded in safety and service excellence.

She stated that stakeholders must recognise that conflict is not only a disruption but a reality and called for a coordinated and proactive response.

Kuku spoke in Lagos at this year’s FAAN’s Aviation Safety Week with the theme: “Navigating Conflict for a Safer Aviation in Nigeria”.

She was corroborated by a former General Manager, Public Affairs of the authority and one-time Commissioner for Information in Plateau State, Hon. Yakubu Dati who in his keynote address noted that the industry had recorded “a significant increase in incidents involving unruly passengers over the past decade, posing serious challenges to operational efficiency and, at times, compromising aviation safety.”

The FAAN MD represented by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Emiola Luqman stated that the authority had taken decisive steps to nip conflicts in the bud in and around the airport.

 

 

 

She disclosed that FAAN had trained its frontline personnel in conflict de-escalation and behavioural awareness; enhanced passenger facilitation processes to reduce stress and miscommunication; strengthened inter-agency collaboration to ensure clarity of roles and unified responses to conflict.

 

 

 

“No single organisation can build safety in isolation. Safety is collective and so must our response be. We must shift from siloed efforts to integrated safety strategies, where security agencies, airlines, handlers, concessionaires, unions and the regulator work in complete synergy,” she said.

 

 

 

Dati in his keynote speech blamed the rise in conflicts in the aviation industry on breakdown in communication.

 

 

 

He made reference to the International Air Transport Association (IATA, 2024) report which noted that disruptive passenger events now occur at a rate of 1 in every 568 flights, with verbal abuse, intoxication, and non-compliance among the leading causes.

 

“The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, 2024) has likewise identified “air rage” and onboard aggression as safety-critical issues, urging member states to integrate behavioural risk management into their safety frameworks,” he added.

 

According to him, effective conflict management within the aviation sector requires the integration of negotiation, mediation, communication, and safety management systems (SMS).

 

 

 

“These tools ensure that disagreements are constructively addressed before escalating into crises that could jeopardise passenger safety or disrupt operations.

 

A proactive approach to conflict resolution also enhances organisational cohesion, regulatory compliance, and adherence to international best practices.

 

 

 

Therefore, navigating conflict for a safer aviation industry involves not only addressing existing disputes but also developing institutional frameworks, leadership capacities, and communication structures that promote a culture of safety, trust, and collaboration. Understanding how conflicts affect aviation operations and exploring strategies for mitigating them is vital for ensuring a secure, efficient, and resilient air transport system capable of supporting global and national development goals,” he said.

 

 

 

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards, Rt. Hon. David Idris Zacharias commended FAAN for “its proactive efforts in fostering a culture of safety, though Safety is a continuous process, areas of improvement should be looked into.”

 

 

 

“You are encouraged to sustain partnership among government agencies, operators, and professionals to advance Nigeria’s commitment to global best practices in aviation safety,” he said.

 

 

 

Also speaking at the event, Mba Ifeoma Lorrettor, general manager, safety services said safety is not just a policy and regulation in FAAN but defines the culture, shapes its operation and sustains public trust at airports.