A passenger who was discovered on board a South African Airways 060 from Johannesburg to Lagos was alleged to be smoking on board the aircraft has been handed over to the police for prosecution with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) vowing to follow the case to its logical conclusion to serve as a deterrent to others.

The unruly passenger (name withheld) resorted to smoking on board an aircraft in abeyance to civil aviation regulations in contravention of Section 58 of the Civil Aviation Act 2006, Part.17.97.2 (a) and (c) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation 2012.

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 months.

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.

This culprit however, failed to adhere to this warning. Therefore; the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will collaborate with the Police to ensure prosecution.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in a statement released in Lagos says 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.