Our reporter
The now-viral video of an Ibom Air passenger refusing to switch her phone to airplane mode has reignited debate over one of aviation’s most frequently questioned rules. But aviation experts insist the instruction is far from a pointless formality.
The incident — which escalated into a heated exchange between the passenger and cabin crew — has served as a timely reminder of why compliance with in-flight safety procedures is taken so seriously.
Airplane mode disables a phone’s ability to make calls, send texts or connect to mobile networks, while still allowing offline use for entertainment. Aviation authorities say the measure serves three key purposes: preventing interference with the aircraft’s sensitive navigation and communication systems; reducing unnecessary strain on ground mobile networks; and ensuring passengers give their full attention during take-off and landing — the most critical phases of any flight.
Failure to comply is more than just bad manners. Disobeying crew instructions is a legal offence under international aviation law, and can result in removal from the aircraft, interrogation by airport security, placement on an airline’s no-fly list, or even prosecution.
While most airlines now allow passengers to re-enable Wi-Fi or Bluetooth after switching to airplane mode, the golden rule remains the same: switch it on when instructed.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently stressed that unruly passenger behaviour would not be tolerated, warning that aviation security personnel are being retrained to deal with incidents swiftly and decisively.
For travellers, the advice is simple: “Better safe than sorry” — or risk swapping your boarding pass for a police report.
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