NCAA orders all phones switched off during flight take-off, landing

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has declared that all mobile phones must be switched off during flight take-off and landing.

The NCAA announced this via a statement shared by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on X on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Achimugu said the regulation concerning phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has now been unified.

He stated: “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.

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“No more airplane mode until regulations are reviewed to reflect evolving technological situations.”

The latest development comes after the agency’s emergency meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday.

The development also follows the recent incident involving a passenger, identified as Comfort Emmanson, and Ibom Air at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

Speaking on the incident via a statement on August 11, Ibom Air attributed the incident to the passenger’s failure to comply with flight protocols.

Narrating the incident, Ibom Air stated that shortly before take-off from Uyo, Emmanson was instructed in line with standard aviation safety procedures to switch off her mobile phone.

Ibom Air said the passenger refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.

The Star