Nigerian Aviation Authority Orders All Phones Off During Flight Take-Off And Landing, Bans Airplane Mode
In a sweeping regulatory move that has instantly reverberated across Nigeria’s aviation landscape, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a new directive mandating the complete shutdown of all mobile phones during take-off and landing—declaring the once-accepted use of “airplane mode” officially obsolete.
The announcement was made public on Tuesday by Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Henceforth, the regulation per phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has been unified: ALL PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF DURING THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF TAKE-OFF AND LANDING. All airlines must amend their security programmes to reflect this if different in their current programmes. No more airplane mode until regulations are reviewed to reflect evolving technological situations,” Achimugu declared.
This is not a subtle adjustment—it is a decisive departure from years of practice in which airlines permitted passengers to leave their devices in flight-safe mode. With immediate effect, passengers must power down entirely during the “critical phases” of flight, namely ascent and descent.
The timing of this regulatory hammer-drop is no coincidence. It follows closely on the heels of the Comfort Emmanson vs Ibom Air saga, which gripped social media and threw Nigeria’s aviation sector into an unexpected spotlight.
Emmanson’s ordeal began on Sunday, August 10, 2025, when she allegedly refused to switch off her phone—claiming it was in airplane mode—before an Ibom Air flight departed. What started as a dispute over compliance quickly escalated into chaos.
According to reports, Emmanson engaged in a heated altercation with the purser, culminating in her dramatic arrest and arraignment the very next day. She was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility, sparking outrage after viral videos captured her being blocked from exiting the plane and, in another clip, forcefully dragged out by airport security—with parts of her body indecently exposed.
The fallout was immediate. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo condemned the circulation of the demeaning footage, promising disciplinary measures against those who leaked it. Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu slammed the treatment of Emmanson as a case of “selective justice,” while Lagos lawyer Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya insisted on transparency and strict adherence to due process.
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Amid the public uproar, the NCAA launched an internal inquiry after an eyewitness who sat beside Emmanson submitted a statement. Eventually, Minister Keyamo stepped in, withdrawing the criminal charges and lifting Ibom Air’s lifetime flying ban imposed on the embattled passenger.
The Emmanson debacle has now snowballed into a sector-wide regulatory reset. By outlawing the use of airplane mode, the NCAA appears intent on drawing an unmistakable line: absolute compliance, zero ambiguity.
For years, passengers globally have debated whether electronic devices truly interfere with cockpit instruments. While modern avionics are generally shielded from mobile frequencies, aviation regulators often err on the side of caution. Nigeria’s latest decree suggests a desire not only to strengthen safety enforcement but also to reassert the authority of cabin crew in the face of rising passenger defiance.
Airlines are now under obligation to amend their security protocols to reflect the prohibition. Industry watchers predict that compliance checks will intensify, with passengers caught flouting the new order likely facing stricter penalties than before.
Yet, the larger conversation transcends aviation safety. The Emmanson affair has unearthed deep societal tensions—about the treatment of women in custody, the dignity of passengers, and the discretionary power of airlines in Nigeria.
By introducing this sweeping ban, the NCAA may be attempting to seal cracks exposed by the scandal. But the lingering question is whether this measure addresses the underlying issue of passenger rights—or merely enforces silence by rule of law.
For now, travelers should heed the directive: switch off completely, or risk sanctions. Until technology and regulation find common ground, airplane mode is no longer a shield—at least not in Nigerian skies.