The Senate Committee on Aviation has vowed to investigate recent high-profile confrontations between airline operators and passengers across the country.
The Committee made this known on Wednesday in Abuja, and also promised a swift action to restore discipline, safety, and public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Last week, celebrated Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, made headlines after obstructing the take-off of an aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in a dramatic display that drew public criticisms.
In another incident, Comfort Emmanson, a passenger aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, was forcibly removed after allegedly refusing to switch off her mobile phone before take-off.
Video footage of the episode, which has since gone viral, shows her slapping a female flight attendant, who insisted she comply with safety procedures.
In a statement, the committee said it would summon key aviation regulators, operators, security agencies, and public interest groups to establish the facts, review safety and operational protocols, and recommend corrective measures.
“In exercising our constitutional powers, we will not allow procedural gaps or lapses in enforcement to undermine safety, professionalism, or public trust in our aviation system,” the statement read. “The Senate Committee on Aviation will ensure accountability at all levels.”
The committee assured Nigerians of its commitment to professionalism, pledging to prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has withdrawn charges against the Ibom Air passenger, Emmanson and promised overhauling of the aviation sector to forestall future occuences and safety in the industry.