NCAA to sanction airlines, crew over unauthorized passengers in cockpit

By Seun Ibiyemi

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority  (NCAA) has frowned at and will sanction airline operators who allow unauthorised personnel into their aircraft cockpit during operations.

The NCAA made this known in a letter to all operators stressing the importance of the aircraft cockpit and stating that it is a sterile area.

The letter NCAA/ DG/ AIR/1/11/324 dated 25th October 2021, and addressed to accountable managers decried the worrisome trend but has vowed to take action.

The letter in part reads, “It has been brought to the notice of the authority of a worrisome development in which passengers are admitted into the flight deck (cockpit) especially on commercial air transport flights.

“Aircraft flight decks are designated sterile working environment and the presence of unauthorised persons is both a distraction to safe flight operations and a potential security. In addition, it is a violation of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) 8.5.1.12 and 8.5.1.13.

“All operators and flight crews are hereby warned to desist from admitting unauthorised persons into the cockpit during all phases of flight operations with immediate effect.

“Any violation of non-compliance with the directive will result in the imposition of applicable sanctions on both operators and flight crew.”