The President, Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju (Rtd), has explained why passengers aboard aircraft are usually asked to switch off their phones.
Onitiju explained that the directive is all about the safety of passengers, stressing that nothing should happen to an aircraft once it is airborne.
He stated this while fielding questions on Arise Television’s news programme on Monday.
The clarification comes after Comfort Emmanson, a passenger alleged to have assaulted airline officials aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.
According to him, cellular phones and other devices are capable of interfering with the aircraft’s communications and navigation systems.
Onitiju stated that such developments could be dangerous to flights during takeoff and landing.
He said: “The issue of the directive that you should switch off your phone, it’s about your safety and the safety of others. Nothing should happen to an aircraft once it is airborne. There is no parking space up there, and anything that is capable of jeopardizing the safety of such a flight is to be addressed and prevented.
“You see, cellular phones and other devices are capable of interfering with the aircraft’s communications and navigation systems, and that could be dangerous to flights, also during takeoff and landing.
“If those devices are on, the waves and other elements could affect the aircraft’s navigation and communication system. It could jeopardize flights even during such times; it could even disrupt those towers you see that communication service providers use.
“So all those are to be prevented, and you do not, for any reason, risk the issue of compromising safety.”
