The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered that all mobile phones must be completely switched off during take-off and landing citing passenger and crew safety, ending the use of “flight mode” in Nigerian flights.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed that all passengers must now switch off their mobile phones during flight take-off and landing, abandoning the long-standing practice of using flight mode.
NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, explained the directive during an interview on Arise Television’s News Night, stressing that passenger safety and varying airline security programmes necessitated the decision.
“Regulator is a responsive authority in this case. There are too many arguments over which is better between switching off phones or putting them on aeroplane mode on the flight. Unfortunately, people have failed to grasp the crux of the matter,” Achimugu said.
He added that while some aircraft are equipped for aeroplane mode, others are not, and that “every tiny mistake can cause a mishap.”
NCAA Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, reinforced the directive at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, declaring: “All mobile phones, I repeat, all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices should be switched off… Switched off.”