Passenger Caught Smoking On South African Airways Flight Will Be Prosecuted

SAN FRANCISCO, April 24 (THEWILL) – A passenger, who was caught smoking on board a South African Airways 060 flight, from Johannesburg to Lagos, has been handed over to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the police, for prosecution.

NCAA in a statement released on Sunday, in Lagos, declared that it is committed to follow this case to its logical conclusion to serve as deterrence to others who possess the penchant to flout the Authority's regulations.

“It is important to note that according to the Regulations, all airlines should and must as part of pre-flight formalities announce that smoking is prohibited anywhere in the cabin including the toilet,” the statement read.

“This culprit, however, failed to adhere to this warning. Therefore, the NCAA will collaborate with the police to ensure prosecution.”

Although the passenger's name was not revealed, his action was classified as disobedience to civil aviation regulations in Section 58 of the Civil Aviation Act 2006, Part.17.97.2 (a) and (c) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation 2012 (Nig.CARs).

In line with Part 20.2.3.42 of the Nig.CARs, the stipulated penalty for smoking on board an aircraft is imprisonment of not less than two month.

Story by David Oputah