Johannesburg – The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has received a report regarding the disruptive behavior of Nobuntu Mkhize, a female staff member from SABC, on a FlySafair flight from Durban to Cape Town.

On Monday, (30 December 2024), SACAA noted that it had come across several video clips circulating on social media showing a passenger demonstrating unruly behavior on a FlySafair flight on Boxing Day, (Thursday, 26 December 2024).

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The SACAA, which serves as the national regulator for civil aviation safety and security, confirmed that a detailed report from the airline has been submitted to law enforcement for further investigation.

According to Section 135 of the Civil Aviation Act, the SACAA highlighted that unruly behavior is considered an offense that could lead to a prison sentence of up to six months.

Failure to comply with or interfering with the directives of cabin crew is a violation of civil aviation regulations and may result in both fines and imprisonment.

Poppy Khoza, the SACAA Director of Civil Aviation, strongly condemned the incident and emphasized the regulator’s commitment to a zero-tolerance stance towards passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate, or hinder cabin crew.

“It is crucial to understand that cabin crew members are licensed as Safety Officers under the Civil Aviation Regulations,” Khoza stated.

“Their primary duty is to uphold safety protocols and ensure passenger comfort.”

“The events that occurred on board the aircraft were regrettable and unacceptable as they jeopardized the safety of all passengers and crew.”

Khoza further noted, “Unruly behavior, disruptions, or indecency on any aircraft endangers not only the aircraft but also its occupants, and this is simply intolerable.”

“We urge all passengers to comply with and respect the instructions given by the crew to maintain safety.”

“South Africa boasts an excellent aviation safety record, and we must not let individual actions compromise this standard.”

“While we appreciate the cooperation from passengers during the incident, we also commend the cabin crew for their efforts in de-escalating the situation to ensure the safety of everyone on board.”

Upon arrival in Cape Town, the woman was handed over to the police.

FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gorden stated, “We strongly denounce any behavior of this nature. Flight attendants serve primarily as safety officers, and disrupting their responsibilities is a criminal offense.”

“This passenger will be placed on our no-fly list and will be barred from future FlySafair flights.”

The African National Congress has distanced itself from the woman, who had invoked the party during her confrontational interactions with the cabin crew.

The Patriotic Alliance has announced intentions to file a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against Mkhize.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has lodged a criminal complaint with the police against the passenger, alleging that she directed racial slurs at the colored community.

Mkhize insists that she was neither intoxicated nor disruptive and claims instead that she was a victim of an attack.