NCAA TO PROSECUTE UNRULY PASSENGERS AS TURKISH AIRLINES PAYS COMPENSATION OVER LUGGAGE DELAY

TURKISH AIRLINES

NIGERIA - Following the intervention of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Turkish Airlines have paid the prescribed compensation to all the passengers whose luggage were delayed in the Flight TK 624 scheduled service from Istanbul to Abuja, the authority confirmed today.

It would be recalled that there was an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja penultimate Saturday when passengers of the flight allegedly invaded the tarmac following the refusal of the airline to produce their luggage.

The tarmac invasion irked the aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika who suspended the airport Manager, the Terminal Manager and Head of Security at the airport.

However, the NCAA intervened by holding a meeting with the Turkish airlines officials which led to the compensation paid to the affected passengers.

Besides, the NCAA would deploy the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage to identify unruly passengers and prosecute them to serve as deterrent to others.

The Airline under the supervision of the Consumer Protection Officers (CPO) of the Regulatory Authority ensured that all the passengers were paid full monetary compensation as contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), according to the report of investigation conducted by the NCAA submitted to the Director General, Capt. Muhtar Usman.

According to the report, "In addition, a cargo flight and an Airbus were arranged to freight to Abuja, Nigeria, all contentious backlog of baggage that were earlier short landed".

In a statement by NCAA General Manager, Public Relations, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, the authority confirmed that all concerned passengers had since collected their luggage.

Other recommendations of the report include provision of signages informing passengers of possible penalties of unlawful acts at the airport.

The statement added, "Furthermore, clear cut penalties arising from unlawful acts should be displayed to serve as deterrent to would be violators.

"The Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage will be deployed and the Turkish Airlines should assist in identifying the unruly passengers for prosecution to dissuade others from carrying out similar acts subsequently.

"In the course of the final phase of the investigation, salient questions will be asked concerning airport management. If established sanctions will be applied for violating access control requirements in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) chapters 4.5 (a),6.1.4.6.2.1 and 6.3.2.

"Also, the requirements of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations Part 17 section 17.37.1-3".

The NCAA also directed appropriate Agencies to put up appropriate control mechanism strong enough to prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas of the airports forthwith.

"These recommendations and others would be implemented to the letter to foreclose and mitigate future occurrence", NCAA said.

COURTESY: DAILY TRUST.