Indications have emerged that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) may prosecute Turkish Airline passengers who unlawfully entered into the tarmac at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to claim their luggage.
A report submitted to the office of Minister of State Aviation by the NCAA stated that Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage would be deployed and the Turkish Airline would assist in identifying the unruly passengers for prosecution to deter people from carrying out similar acts in the future.
The statement read that, “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.”
The report recommended the need to provide signs informing passengers of penalties for unlawful acts at the airport and all other airports in the country.
The statement made available to journalists in Abuja said, “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.”
“NCAA has also directed the appropriate agencies to put up appropriate control mechanism strong enough to prevent un-authorized access to restricted areas of the airports forthwith.
These recommendations and others would be implemented to the letter to foreclose and mitigate future occurrence.”
Meanwhile following pressure from the NCAA the Turkish Airline has awarded varying compensations to all the passengers whose rights were abused due to the airline’s delay of their luggage on Flight TK 624 service from Istanbul to Abuja.
It was gathered that the airline paid compensations ranging from N8,000 to N80,000 depending on the level of infraction.
According to NCAA, “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).”
“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. All concerned passengers have collected same as at the time of this report.” -Guardian.
