A TV boss is accused of hurling abuse and a drink at airline staff onboard a flight on Boxing Day – Nobuntu Mkhize works for South Africa’s national equivalent of the BBC
19:23, 02 Jan 2025Updated 19:23, 02 Jan 2025
Local media reports say the woman will be added to a no-fly list(Image: NX)
A Boxing Day flight turned sour as a TV boss was accused of hurling abuse and a drink over an air stewardess.
The passenger, identified as South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Brand Manager Nobuntu ‘Nobs’ Mkhize, is reported to have been heard in footage calling a stewardess a “menial” as she furiously struggled against being restrained.
One irked passenger abused the woman seen in video footage before she was eventually escorted off the aircraft by police in Cape Town. Ms Mkhize claimed that she was being mistreated because of her race. Local media reports later said she planned to sue the airline – FlySafair – and that she had denied being drunk.
‘We condemn any behaviour of this nature,’ FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gorden said(Image: NX)
FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gorden said: “We condemn any behaviour of this nature. Flight attendants have a primary duty as safety officers and interfering with their duties is a criminal offence. This passenger will be placed on our no-fly list and will not be welcome on future FlySafair flights.”
Video footage that circulated online appeared to show an argument between a passenger and another female. The woman sitting down can be seen throwing a drink, causing howls from watching passengers.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has slammed Ms Mkhize’s alleged behaviour and further commended the efforts by the flight crew to regain control of the situation.
Director of Civil Aviation, Poppy Khoza, said: “It must be noted that cabin crew members are licensed as safety officers under the Civil Aviation Regulations. Their primary duty therefore is to ensure safety protocols are always maintained as well as the comfort of passengers.
Ms Mkhize works for the SABC,(Image: NX)
“Unruly behaviour, nuisance, disorderly or indecent acts on board any aircraft endangers the safety of both the aircraft and its occupants, and this cannot be tolerated. We want to discourage any act that undermines safety of crew and passengers and call on all passengers travelling on any flight to observe and obey the instructions of the crew. South Africa carries a sterling record in air safety and this is the record that cannot be undermined by any individual.”
SACAA oversees civil aviation in South Afridca and investigates aviation incidents and accidents.
Ms Mkhize works for the SABC, South Africa’s national high prestige equivalent of the BBC. She is the daughter of the late veteran journalist, Khaba Mkhize.
Further reports say she will be a banned from FlySafair flights and added to a no-fly list.
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